Key takeaways:
Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) and Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) are both first-choice options for treating chronic hepatitis B infection. But there are some differences between them.
Vemlidy and Viread are approved for different age groups, come in different dosage forms, and have different side effects to consider. Vemlidy is only available as a brand-name medication, while Viread also comes as a lower-cost generic.
Generic Viread is typically more affordable than brand-name Viread or Vemlidy. But Vemlidy’s manufacturer offers a copay savings card and patient assistance program to help you access the medication at no cost.
As the body’s largest solid internal organ, the liver is a metabolic workhorse. Its functions include recycling old blood cells, aiding digestion, and breaking down toxins. Hepatitis infections, including hepatitis B, can cause serious liver inflammation.
There are several different strains of viral hepatitis. The CDC reports that about 640,000 adults in the U.S. have chronic hepatitis B infection, but the actual figure could exceed 2 million. For a variety of reasons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) may be at higher risk of hepatitis B than other groups.
A person with chronic hepatitis B may need antiviral medication to keep the virus from further harming their liver. Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) and Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) are two antiviral medications used to treat hepatitis B. Both medications block an enzyme that helps the virus make copies of itself. Below, we examine the cost differences and show you how to save money on these medications.
What is the same and different about Vemlidy and Viread?
Viread and Vemlidy contain a similar active ingredient: tenofovir. They’re both considered first-choice options for treating chronic hepatitis B. But they work slightly differently in the body. Viread is also available as a lower-cost generic version, while Vemlidy is available only as a brand-name medication in the U.S.
Viread is FDA-approved to treat chronic hepatitis B. It’s also approved to treat HIV infection in combination with other medications. Viread is a safe option for adults and children ages 2 and older who weigh at least 10 kg (22 lbs). It comes as an oral tablet in doses ranging from 150 mg to 300 mg. It also comes as an oral powder you can mix into soft foods for young children or those who have trouble swallowing pills.
Vemlidy is approved to treat chronic hepatitis B in adults and children ages 6 and older who weigh at least 25 kg (55 lbs). It comes in a 25 mg oral tablet. The active ingredient in Vemlidy is part of several fixed-dose combination medications that treat HIV. But Vemlidy isn’t approved to treat HIV on its own.
Vemlidy and Viread can cause similar side effects, including:
Nausea
Headache
Fatigue
Back pain
One of the biggest cautions for both Vemlidy and Viread is the potential for hepatitis B to worsen if you suddenly stop taking the medications. That’s why it’s important to keep taking these medications as prescribed unless your healthcare professional tells you to stop.
Vemlidy vs. Viread costs
Without insurance or discounts, brand-name Vemlidy typically costs more than brand-name Viread. Generic Viread has the most affordable cash price.
Here’s a chart comparing Vemlidy, Viread, and generic Viread prices without insurance or discounts.
Hepatitis B Medication Comparisons
Drug name | Dosage | Average cash price (30-day supply) | Lowest GoodRx price (30-day supply) |
Vemlidy | 25 mg, 30 tablets | ||
Viread | 300 mg, 30 tablets | ||
Tenofovir (generic Viread) | 300 mg, 30 tablets |
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of medications that treat hepatitis B.
What is viral hepatitis? Of the five types of viral hepatitis — A, B, C, D, and E — the most common in the U.S. are hepatitis B and C.
Hepatitis B vaccines: Learn about the hepatitis B vaccine and who should get vaccinated, given that this incurable virus can result in liver failure and liver cancer.
Hepatitis B symptoms: If you are experiencing jaundice, vomiting, and stomach pain, you may have an acute hepatitis B infection.
Savings programs
There are no manufacturer savings available for Viread or its generic.
Vemlidy’s manufacturer, Gilead, offers a manufacturer copay coupon and a patient assistance program to help reduce out-of-pocket costs for eligible consumers. Gilead offers the services of navigators to help people connect with a program that can help them.
Vemlidy Copay Coupon and Patient Assistance Program
| Program websites | |
| Phone number | 1-855-769-7284 |
| Manufacturer | Gilead Sciences |
| How much can I save? | Copay coupon program: Your copay may be reduced to as little as $0 per month, with maximum savings of $6,000 per year and no monthly limit. You must have commercial insurance to qualify. Patient assistance program: Once you submit documentation of income and you’re approved, you can receive Vemlidy from a pharmacy by mail for free. |
| How do I get the discount? | For the copay coupon program, fill out the online form to confirm your eligibility. You’ll need your prescriber’s help to fill out the patient assistance program enrollment form. |
| Are there any restrictions? | Copay discounts are only available to commercially insured people at participating pharmacies. You must live in a U.S. state, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory. You must be at least 18 years old to enroll or to sign up a minor with a Vemlidy prescription. Persons covered by government insurance plans such as Medicaid, Medicare, or Tricare are not eligible for the copay coupon. |
More ways to save
Try a 90-day supply: Another way to save money on these medications is to fill a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply. This may require you to get a new prescription from your healthcare professional. If you don’t use a mail-order service, filling a 90-day supply means you’ll also make fewer trips to the pharmacy.
Talk to your healthcare professional: Ask your prescriber about switching to a more affordable medication or one covered by your insurance that meets your needs. There are other first-choice treatment options for chronic hepatitis B.
Why do Viread and Vemlidy cost so much?
Both Viread and Vemlidy are brand-name medications. Pharmaceutical companies invest large amounts of money into research and development. Prescription medications are also more costly in the U.S. because drugmakers set the prices with little regulation and the patent system limits competition.
Gilead Sciences holds the patent for Vemlidy through 2031, and generic versions won’t be sold until at least January 2032. Viread’s patent has already expired, allowing drug manufacturers to sell generic tenofovir at a lower price.
The bottom line
Hepatitis B can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) and Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) are both first-choice options for treating chronic hepatitis B. Vemlidy is only available as a brand-name medication, while Viread also comes as a lower-cost generic.
People who take Vemlidy for chronic hepatitis B may be eligible for a copay discount coupon or free medication through the manufacturer’s patient assistance program. Filling a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply may help you pay less per tablet for Vemlidy, Viread, or generic Viread.
If you’re interested in a more affordable hepatitis B medication, be sure to ask your prescriber first. Abruptly stopping your current medication on your own can worsen your condition or cause other side effects.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Liver Foundation. (2023). Hepatitis B.
Brittain, B. (2022). Gilead settles patent fight with generic drugmakers over HIV drugs. Reuters.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Hepatitis B basics.
Clinicalinfo.HIV.gov. (2025). Drug database: Tenofovir alafenamide.
Cubanski, J., et al. (2023). Explaining the prescription drug provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. KFF.
European Association for the Study of the Liver. (2025). EASL clinical practice guidelines on the management of hepatitis B virus infection. Journal of Hepatology.
Gilead Sciences. (2019). Viread- tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablet, coated, Viread- tenofovir disoproxil fumarate powder [package insert].
Gilead Sciences. (2021). Support Path.
Gilead Sciences. (2024). Vemlidy- tenofovir alafenamide tablet [package insert].
