What is the cost of Kymriah?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on July 3, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) is an expensive CAR-T cell cancer therapy that costs over $633,000 for one treatment, but most people do not pay this amount. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) states that CAR-T cell therapy would be covered for eligible people with Medicare.

Kymriah is usually given by a health care provider in a clinic or hospital and is not found in a traditional pharmacy. The cost for this medicine may be covered by your insurance but you may have a deductible, copay and / or coinsurance. It is given as one single treatment intravenous (IV) infusion (into a vein in your arm) but involves close monitoring by healthcare providers.

Approved uses

Kymriah is a chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy for use in pediatric and young adult patients (up to age 25) with relapsed or refractory (r/r) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

It is also approved to treat relapsed or refractory large b-cell lymphoma in adults after two or more therapies. It is not used for treatment of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma.

It is used to treat adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more therapies.

You will receive your infusion in a healthcare center that may not be close to your home. You will need to stay close to a healthcare center after getting Kymriah, usually for at least 14 days, to receive special treatment if needed, and to monitor for side effects.

Kymriah Cares, a support program from Novartis, offers assistance to eligible patients to help them gain access to treatment. Your questions related to the medicine and administration, treatment center locations, or insurance coverage can be directed to Kymriah Cares at 1-844-459-6742 8AM to 8PM ET.

Visit the Drugs.com Kymriah Price Guide to learn more about costs, copay programs and patient financial assistance.

Does Medicare pay for Kymriah?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has stated that CAR-T cell therapy would be covered for all patients with Medicare. You still may have deductibles, copays, coinsurance or other costs. Ask your physician for more information.

Most people do not pay out-of-pocket for the full price of Kymriah. Your cost will vary based on your insurance coverage or other financial assistance. Novartis may be able to provide this drug for free if you have been denied coverage or do not have insurance.

If you have more questions about Kymriah treatment, treatment center locations, Medicare / Medicaid, or other insurance coverage, you can contact Novartis at 1-844-4KYMRIAH (1-844-459-6742), 8AM to 8PM ET for more information.

This is not all the information you need to know about Kymriah and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Prices and savings programs are subject to change at any time. Discuss any medical questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

References

Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) prescribing information. Revised 5/2022. Novartis Inc., East Hanover, NJ. Dec. 2020. Accessed June 3, 2022 at https://www.novartis.us/sites/www.novartis.us/files/kymriah.pdf
Support Resources for Kymriah. Kymriah.com. Accessed April 11, 2024 at https://www.us.kymriah.com/acute-lymphoblastic-leukemia-children/patient-support/support-resources-for-kymriah/
Novartis Can Provide CAR-T Therapy for Free, OIG Says. WCG FDANews. March 30, 2021. Accessed April 11, 2024 at https://www.fdanews.com/articles/202098-novartis-can-provide-car-t-therapy-for-free-oig-says
Medicare to Cover CAR-T Cell Therapy. Cancer Today. Dec. 23, 2019. Accessed April 11, 2024 at https://www.cancertodaymag.org/Pages/Winter2019-2020/Medicare-to-Cover-CAR-T-Cell-Therapy.aspx
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS.gov. Accessed April 11, 2024 at https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncacal-decision-memo.aspx?proposed=N&NCAId=291

How is Kymriah administered?

Kymriah is administered as a suspension through a tube (intravenous catheter) into your vein, typically in your arm. This single-dose infusion usually takes less than one hour. Before you receive Kymriah, you may have chemotherapy for a few days to help prepare your body to receive the treatment.

What type of drug is Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel)?

Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) is a chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy. In CAR-T cell therapy, a patient's cells are genetically modified to include a new protein that directs that specific white blood cell (known as T-cell) to target and kill leukemia cells.

What is the difference between Truxima and Rituxan?

Truxima (rituximab-abbs) is a biosimilar to Rituxan (rituximab). While both drugs are CD20-directed cytolytic antibodies used to treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), Rituxan has additional FDA-approved indications beyond NHL. Continue reading

What is the cost of Kymriah?

Approved uses

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