Colistimethate vs Polymyxin B — Cost, Coverage & Plan Comparison

Pick the drugs you want to compare.

Up to 4 drugsCross-class or same-class

Start with the molecules your plan spends the most on. Most useful comparisons live within the same therapeutic class — switching across classes requires deeper clinical review.

Drug 1

Drug 2

Drug 3 (optional)

Drug 4 (optional)

Side by side, line by line.

Federal data onlyNo PBM pricing assumed

Compare across

11 dimensions

Polymyxin-class Antibacterial

Colistimethate

Brand: Colistimethate

First FDA approval: 2007-11-01

Polymyxin-class Antibacterial

Polymyxin B

Brand: POLYMYXIN B

First FDA approval: 1998-06-01

Lowest NADACAcquisition cost floor across all NDCs

$16.35Per unit

—Per unit

Average NADACAcross all dosage forms and strengths

$16.35Up to $16.35

—

Generic manufacturersActive ANDA holders — FDA Orange Book

44 total ANDAs filed

Annualized Part D spendCY2024 — CMS Part D Spending Dashboard

—Full year

$29910Full year

Part D claims (CY24)Total fills, all strengths

—— beneficiaries

330110 beneficiaries

Avg cost per claimCalculated: total spend ÷ total claims

—Per claim, all NDCs

$91Per claim, all NDCs

Part D plans surveyed2026 plan year — CMS Formulary file

329Across CMS plan year

Prior-authorization frictionPlan-NDC pairs requiring PA

46Minimal friction

8Minimal friction

Step therapy appliedPlan-NDC pairs requiring step therapy

0None

FDA shortage statusLive cross-reference vs FDA Drug Shortage Database

NoneClear

Generic availableFDA Orange Book

Yes4 manufacturers