Vyvgart

Introduction

Written by Helen Marshall, BPharm, MRPharmS
Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter, PharmD, MS MEd, BCPS, BCACP
Updated on June 10, 2024

Vyvgart is a brand-name medication that’s prescribed for myasthenia gravis in certain adults. Vyvgart is not available in a biosimilar version. The cost of Vyvgart with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon. 

Read on to learn about Vyvgart and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about Vyvgart, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

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Cost of Vyvgart

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

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• where you receive your doses of Vyvgart
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of Vyvgart
• the quantity/amount prescribed
• the drug form you’re prescribed (Vyvgart infusion or Vyvgart Hytrulo injection)
• the number of treatment cycles you receive

To find out how much Vyvgart costs, including a typical Vyvgart annual cost, 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 Vyvgart” section.

Coupons for Vyvgart

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.

Coupons may not be available for all medications, such as those that are only given by a healthcare professional.

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 Vyvgart

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 Vyvgart. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for Vyvgart. 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 Vyvgart may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional gives doses of Vyvgart. 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.
• Co-pay program: If you have insurance, you may be eligible for assistance with your out-of-pocket costs through the Vyvgart Co-pay program. To find out more, call 833-MY-PATH-1 (833-697-2841) or visit the program website.
• Patient Support Program: If you don’t have insurance and need financial support to pay for Vyvgart, you may be able to get help through the My Vyvgart Path Patient Support Program. To find out more, call 833-MY-PATH-1 (833-697-2841) or visit the program website.
• 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

Vyvgart 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). 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.)

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.

Common questions about Vyvgart and cost

Here are some common questions and answers about Vyvgart.

Is Vyvgart covered by Medicare?

Vyvgart is usually covered by Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient medical care. This is because Vyvgart is administered by a healthcare professional, typically at a doctor’s office or in a hospital infusion center.

To find out more about Vyvgart Medicare coverage, talk with your doctor or insurance provider. They can give you more information about any out-of-pocket expenses you can expect with this treatment. These may include coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments, depending on your insurance plan.

How does the cost of Vyvgart infusion compare with the cost of Vyvgart Hytrulo injection?

Vyvgart comes in two different forms: Vyvgart infusion and Vyvgart Hytrulo injection. Vyvgart infusion is administered by intravenous (IV) infusion, which is an injection into a vein given over a period of time. Vyvgart Hytrulo is given by injection under your skin. Both forms of Vyvgart are administered by a healthcare professional.

The cost of Vyvgart infusion and Vyvgart Hytrulo injection can vary depending on many factors. These include your individual treatment plan and where you receive your treatment. To find out how the cost of these forms of Vyvgart compares based on your situation, talk with your doctor or insurance provider.

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Purple Book: Database of licensed biological products. https://purplebooksearch.fda.gov 
• Vivgart (efgartigimod alfa-fcab) injection, for intravenous use. (2023). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/761195s003lbl.pdf
• Vivgart Hytrulo (efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc) injection, for subcutaneous use. (2023). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/761304s002lbl.pdf

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.