Cidofovir

Introduction

Written by Skyler Todd, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Molly Becze, PharmD, BCPS
Updated on February 1, 2024

Cidofovir (si DOF o veer) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in people with AIDS. Cidofovir is not available in a brand-name version. The cost of cidofovir with or without insurance can depend on several factors.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved cidofovir to treat CMV retinitis, an infection of the retina with CMV, in people who have AIDS. It has not been approved to treat other types of CMV infection or to treat CMV infections in individuals who do not have HIV.

Read on to learn about cidofovir and cost. If you’d like more information about cidofovir, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Cost of cidofovir

Like other medications, the cost of cidofovir can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of cidofovir

To find out how much cidofovir costs, ask your doctor or insurance provider.

Coupons for medications

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of certain medications. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for cidofovir

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization: If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of cidofovir. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for cidofovir. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin using it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• Insurance coverage: Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of cidofovir may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of cidofovir. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the doses at your doctor’s clinic or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
• Savings accounts: If you’re eligible for a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), you can likely use funds from these accounts to pay for your prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. HSA and FSA plans help people save money by using pretax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as prescription and OTC drugs. To learn more about whether you’re eligible for these savings accounts and how to use them, talk with your insurance provider or employer.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Cidofovir is a generic medication. It’s not available in a brand-name version.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) Cidofovir is based on the brand-name version Vistide, which is no longer available.

Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version(s).

Common questions about cidofovir and cost

Here are some common questions about cidofovir and their answers.

Is cidofovir covered by Medicare?

It depends. Cidofovir injection usually isn’t covered by Medicare Part D (prescription drug plans). Cidofovir is given by intravenous (IV) infusion* in a medical clinic or a hospital. Because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of cidofovir, the cost of the drug may be covered under Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B.

Talk with your doctor or Medicare representative for more information about your specific Medicare plan.

* An IV infusion is an injection into your vein given over time.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can patent and sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What to ask about cidofovir

This article provides cost information related to cidofovir. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescriptions. Above on this page, you’ll find coupon information. However, coupons aren’t available for medications, such as cidofovir, that are only given by a healthcare professional.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Are there other medications to treat my condition that cost less than cidofovir?
• Will cidofovir cost less if I receive my doses at a doctor’s office or the hospital?
• What are my options if I can’t afford my medication?

Resources

• Cidofovir injection, USP. (2020). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/44966a7e-d777-40fb-956f-d0f31f737848/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.