Zerbaxa — Compare Prices at US & Canada Pharmacies
Compare real Zerbaxa prices at US and Canadian pharmacies, see official FDA uses and warnings, and find generic alternatives.
What is the typical cash price for Zerbaxa without insurance coverage?
Without insurance, the average retail cost of Zerbaxa is approximately $708.91 per 3 vials of 1.5 (1-0.5) gm solution for reconstitution. However, actual prices can vary significantly depending on the pharmacy. Using discount prescription programs or comparing prices across different pharmacies may help reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
What will I pay for Zerbaxa if I have health insurance?
Your cost for Zerbaxa with insurance depends on your specific plan's formulary and coverage details. Different plans cover Zerbaxa differently, and your copay or coinsurance will vary. Contact your insurance provider directly to confirm whether Zerbaxa is covered under your plan and what your actual out-of-pocket responsibility will be. If your plan doesn't cover Zerbaxa or if your copay is high, discount prescription programs or pharmacy price comparisons may offer more affordable alternatives.
Is a generic version of Zerbaxa available?
Zerbaxa is a brand-name medication produced by Merck Sharp & Dohme. Currently, no generic equivalent has been approved for this medication.
Zerbaxa prices at US pharmacies
Zerbaxa — solution reconstituted, 1.5 (1-0.5)gm, qty 3
| Pharmacy | Retail price | With discount card |
|---|---|---|
| Kroger Pharmacy Lowest | $567.24 | $564.24 |
| Harris Teeter Pharmacy | $567.24 | $564.24 |
| Walgreens | $596.59 | $593.59 |
| Publix | $601.29 | $598.29 |
| CVS Pharmacy | $606.84 | $603.84 |
| Walmart Neighborhood Market | $609.14 | $606.14 |
| Walmart Pharmacy | $609.14 | $606.14 |
| Costco | $612.08 | $609.08 |
Zerbaxa prices at Canadian pharmacies
No Canadian pharmacy pricing was found for Zerbaxa in our latest data pull.
Canada prices are converted to USD at time of collection and shown per tablet where available. Ordering from Canadian pharmacies is legal for personal use in most cases but subject to FDA/CBSA rules — see US vs Canada, explained.
What is Zerbaxa used for?
Zerbaxa combines ceftolozane, a cephalosporin engineered specifically for strong activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (including many multidrug-resistant strains that defeat other beta-lactams), with tazobactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor that extends coverage to include many ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria. That combination makes Zerbaxa a go-to option for serious infections where Pseudomonas resistance is a concern — complicated intra-abdominal infections (given together with metronidazole, since ceftolozane-tazobactam has minimal activity against anaerobic bacteria on its own), complicated urinary tract infections including pyelonephritis, and hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia.
A detail that matters clinically: Zerbaxa is dosed differently depending on what's being treated. The dose approved for pneumonia is substantially higher than the dose used for urinary tract or intra-abdominal infections, reflecting the higher drug exposure needed to adequately treat lung infections — a distinction that matters for correct prescribing and is part of why pneumonia was a later, separately studied indication rather than an automatic extension of the original approval. Like other cephalosporins, dosing requires adjustment for reduced kidney function, since the drug is cleared renally.
As a targeted, resistance-focused combination antibiotic, Zerbaxa sits in WHO's Reserve AWaRe category — appropriate for confirmed or strongly suspected resistant Gram-negative infections rather than routine empiric use, both to preserve its effectiveness against an increasingly important resistance threat and because broader use accelerates the development of further resistance to this newer combination.
How Zerbaxa works
Blocks bacterial cell wall synthesis
Ceftolozane binds to penicillin-binding proteins and stops susceptible bacteria, including many resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, from building their cell wall.
Tazobactam extends coverage
Tazobactam inactivates beta-lactamase enzymes, including many ESBLs, that would otherwise let resistant bacteria destroy ceftolozane.
The bacterial cell dies
Without an intact cell wall, susceptible bacteria rupture and die; because anaerobic coverage is minimal, it's paired with metronidazole for intra-abdominal infections.
Typical dosage forms & strengths
| Use | Typical adult dose | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Complicated UTI or intra-abdominal infection (adults) | 1.5 g IV every 8 hours, adjusted for kidney function | IV infusion (reconstituted) |
| Hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated pneumonia (adults) | 3 g IV every 8 hours, adjusted for kidney function | IV infusion (reconstituted) |
General reference dosing from the FDA label — not personalized advice. Your prescribed dose may differ based on your infection, kidney function, age, and weight. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.
Related & alternative drugs
Commonly used for
Zerbaxa, by the numbers
Additional public data points beyond retail pricing — useful context, not a price quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Zerbaxa cost without insurance?
Is there a generic version of Zerbaxa?
What drug class is Zerbaxa in?
Page info
Prices last checked 2026-08-21. Reviewed against FDA and DailyMed official sources — see our review process. Not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Christopher J. Graber, M.D., MPH, FIDSA, Infectious Disease