Activase

Generic name: alteplase

Used for: Stroke from a blocked blood vessel (ischemic stroke) · Heart attack · Large blood clot in the lungs (massive PE) · 2 more

How do you pay?

How to pay the least

Ask for the cash price

Activase

Activase is a biologic. Biologics don’t have generics, but some have biosimilars or an unbranded version from the same maker. Ask your pharmacist or prescriber whether one is sold.

  1. Ask your pharmacy for Activase’s cash price, and one or two other pharmacies too.

Free from the maker, if you qualify Genentech Patient Foundation. Do not have insurance coverage for their Genentech medicine and their household makes less than $150,000 per year Or call (888) 941-3331.

See if you qualify 

Compare every option

Question
Brand nameActivase
Authorized genericalteplase
Regular genericalteplase
What you’d pay
Cash priceAsk the pharmacy
Not soldThere isn’t one
Not soldAsk the pharmacy
Same as Activase?
The original
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Brand nameNo maker’s card

We didn’t find a savings card or cash price from Activase’s maker. Ask the pharmacy for Activase’s cash price. With insurance, ask what your plan charges.

Authorized genericNot sold

There isn’t one. An authorized generic is Activase itself, from the same company, sold without the brand name, and usually for less. For now Activase is the only choice; ask the pharmacy for its cash price, or your plan what it charges.

Regular genericNot sold

Activase is a biologic. Biologics don’t have generics, but some have biosimilars or an unbranded version from the same maker. Ask your pharmacist or prescriber whether one is sold. Generics usually come once the brand’s patents and exclusivity end. Until then, ask the pharmacy for Activase’s cash price, or your plan what it charges.

What it’s used for

What the FDA label says

Activase is a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) indicated for the treatment of:

  • Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS).
  • Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) to reduce mortality and incidence of heart failure. Limitation of Use in AMI: the risk of stroke may be greater than the benefit in patients at low risk of death from cardiac causes.
  • Acute Massive Pulmonary Embolism (PE) for lysis.

Source: the FDA label for Activase (Genentech, Inc.), January 20, 2026. Full label on DailyMed 

Good to know

Prices change: confirm with the pharmacy before you fill. drugalt.com/drug/activase/