Enbrel generic availability, cost, and dosage

In this article:

• Enbrel generic availability
• What is Enbrel?
• What are the differences between brand-name and generic Enbrel?
• Enbrel (etanercept) at a glance
• How much does Enbrel cost?
• Is Enbrel covered by insurance?
• How do you get Enbrel covered by insurance?
• Generic alternatives to Enbrel
• Expert takeaway

In this article

• Enbrel generic availability
• What is Enbrel?
• What are the differences between brand-name and generic Enbrel?
• Enbrel (etanercept) at a glance
• How much does Enbrel cost?
• Is Enbrel covered by insurance?
• How do you get Enbrel covered by insurance?
• Generic alternatives to Enbrel
• Expert takeaway

Enbrel, which is the etanercept brand name, is a prescription drug that is given by subcutaneous injection (injection under the skin). Enbrel is used to treat various autoimmune inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. Currently, only brand-name Enbrel is available, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two biosimilar versions. 

Enbrel generic availability
Generic name	Etanercept
FDA approval date of generic (biosimilar) versions	2016 and 2019
Is there a generic available for sale in the U.S.?	No
When will a generic be available?	2029

What is Enbrel?

Enbrel is part of a group of drugs called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, or TNF inhibitors. It works by blocking the effects of TNF, a chemical messenger that causes inflammation (swelling) in the body. 

The Enbrel generic name is etanercept. Because Enbrel is a biologic drug, a less expensive version of this drug would be referred to as an Enbrel biosimilar rather than an Enbrel generic (more on this below). 

Two Enbrel biosimilars have been approved by the FDA, but they are not yet available:

• Erelzi (etanercept-szzs) was approved in August 2016 and is expected to be available in 2029.
• Eticovo (etanercept-ykro) was approved in April 2019 and is expected to be available in 2029.

What are the differences between brand-name and generic Enbrel?

Generic medications are less expensive versions of FDA-approved prescription or OTC drugs. However, biologic drugs like Enbrel are different. Biologic drugs come from living sources like humans or animals. As such, they are complex and hard to exactly duplicate. A biosimilar is a highly similar version of an FDA-approved biologic medication. So rather than an Enbrel generic, these versions are known as Enbrel biosimilars. 

Biosimilars contain the same active ingredient, work the same way, and are administered the same way (e.g., injection) as the original product, known as the reference product. Although Enbrel biosimilars are not yet available, they will likely have the same FDA-approved uses (with approved age ranges of use that may vary).

Enbrel (etanercept) at a glance
Uses	Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children 2 years of age and older Psoriatic arthritis in adults  Juvenile psoriatic arthritis in children 2 years and older Ankylosing spondylitis in adult patients Plaque psoriasis in adults and children 4 years and older
Standard dosage	Enbrel dosage varies by factors such as the condition being treated, age, and weight (in children).  Enbrel is available in several dosage forms, including prefilled syringes, autoinjectors, and single-dose vials.
Common side effects	Common etanercept side effects include: Injection site reactions (redness, itching, pain, swelling, bleeding, or bruising around the injection site) Upper respiratory infections; sinus infections
Contraindications	You should not take Enbrel if you have: An allergy to Enbrel or etanercept, or any ingredient in the drug Sepsis Active infection Granulomatosis with polyangiitis and are taking immunosuppressive drugs
Other considerations	Enbrel has a black box warning, the most serious warning required by the FDA. Because Enbrel affects the immune system, there is an increased risk of serious infections. This may include tuberculosis (TB) or other types of bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Your healthcare professional will test you for TB before you start Enbrel, and monitor you for TB and other infections during treatment. The warning also states that there is an increased risk of lymphoma and other malignancies (cancers). Before using Enbrel, you should tell your healthcare provider about all the prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take, so they can check for drug interactions.  While using Enbrel, you should not get live vaccines, such as MMR, rotavirus, varicella (chickenpox), or the nasal flu vaccine. You should not use Enbrel with Orencia (abatacept) or Kineret (anakinra) because of an increased risk of serious infections.  You should not use Enbrel with cyclophosphamide. Other side effects, including serious side effects, may occur, including heart failure or worsening of existing heart failure, hepatitis B reactivation or other liver problems, nervous system problems, allergic reactions, and others. Consult your healthcare provider for a full list of side effects.

How much does Enbrel cost?

Without insurance or discounts, the average price for a one-month supply of Enbrel is $9,574. However, if you use a SingleCare discount at a participating pharmacy, you can pay as low as $7,749 for your prescription. Exact prices may vary depending on the dosage, form, and quantity prescribed, as well as the pharmacy where you fill your prescription. Biologics like Enbrel are usually filled at a specialty pharmacy since they’re considered specialty drugs and require special handling.

Enbrel price comparison
Average cost without insurance	$9,574 for four, 1 mL of 50 mg/mL syringes of Enbrel
SingleCare’s lowest price	$7,749 for four, 1 mL of 50 mg/mL syringes of Enbrel at Walgreens
How to save	Enbrel coupons

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Feb. 19, 2026.  

Is Enbrel covered by insurance?

You can contact your insurance plan directly to find out whether it covers Enbrel. The Enbrel website offers financial support resources (Amgen SupportPlus Representatives) to help you navigate your insurance and find savings options such as the Enbrel Copay Card or the Enbrel Patient Assistance Program. If your health insurance plan does not cover Enbrel, you can consider paying for Enbrel without insurance or talk to your healthcare provider about other options. 

How do you get Enbrel covered by insurance?

Many insurance plans provide coverage for Enbrel, although out-of-pocket costs vary. Prior authorization (PA) is often required. A PA means that your healthcare provider’s office will have to submit information to your insurance plan about why a specific medication is medically necessary for you. They may send information such as lab reports and notes from your visit. The plan will review the information and decide whether it will cover Enbrel. 

Your healthcare provider can also help determine whether your insurance plan covers Enbrel and follow the required steps to help you begin your treatment plan. Because Enbrel is a specialty drug, it is typically filled at a specialty pharmacy. 

To check your insurance coverage ahead of time, you can reach out to your plan directly by calling the member services phone number on your card. You can also log in to your insurance plan’s website to look up the most recent formulary, which lists the plan’s covered drugs and pricing categories. 

Generic alternatives to Enbrel

As mentioned above, there is no biosimilar version of Enbrel available at this time. However, if Enbrel is not the best option for you, your healthcare provider may recommend another drug in the same class, such as another TNF blocker like Humira (adalimumab), Remicade (infliximab), or one of their FDA-approved biosimilars. These drugs are similar and treat many of the same conditions. Your healthcare provider can give you medical advice on whether switching to a different TNF blocker or another Enbrel alternative is appropriate for you. 

Expert takeaway 

“Enbrel is a TNF blocker that does not currently have a biosimilar available. Your healthcare provider can work with you on insurance coverage and ways to save,” says Karen Berger, Pharm.D., member of the SingleCare Medical Board. “If Enbrel is still too expensive, you may want to discuss alternative options with your provider, such as another drug in the same class that is covered or has a biosimilar available.”