Menveo

Introduction

Written by Julz Richterman, PharmD, MBA, BCGP
Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter, PharmD, MS MEd, BCPS, BCACP
Updated on June 12, 2024

Menveo is a brand-name vaccine that’s prescribed to prevent serious infections caused by bacteria called meningococcus. Menveo is not available in a biosimilar version. The cost of Menveo with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Menveo to prevent infections caused by certain strains of bacteria called meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis). This bacteria can cause serious infections including meningitis and meningococcemia (an infection in your blood).

Read on to learn about Menveo and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Menveo, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. 

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Cost of Menveo

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of Menveo
• the number of doses your doctor recommends

To find out how much Menveo costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for Menveo” section.

Coupons for Menveo

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

Note: Optum Perks coupons can’t be used with 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 Menveo

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 Menveo. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Menveo. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking 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 Menveo may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of Menveo. 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.

Brand names vs. biosimilars

Menveo is a brand-name medication. It’s not available in a biosimilar version.

How biosimilars and generics compare

A biosimilar medication is a drug that’s similar to a brand-name biologic drug (the parent drug). Menveo is a biologic drug, which means it’s sourced from living organisms.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. An active ingredient is what makes medication work.

Biosimilars tend to cost less than brand-name medications. Like generics, biosimilars are thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name drug version.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about biosimilar and brand-name medications.

Why costs are different for brand-name biologic drugs vs. biosimilar drugs

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

Makers of a biologic drug can patent and sell their drug for up to 12 years. When the patent for a brand-name biologic drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell biosimilar versions. 

This competition may help keep the costs of biosimilar medications lower. Also, biosimilar medications are very similar to biologic drugs. So they don’t require the same testing, which may be costly.

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

Resources   

• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Purple Book: Database of licensed biological products. https://purplebooksearch.fda.gov
• Menveo [Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y, and W-135) Oligosaccharide Diphtheria CRM197 Conjugate Vaccine] solution for injection, for intramuscular use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/2dc730d5-55fd-4e98-8c8a-daa7d8f872b0/spl-doc

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.