Price comparison of trametinib and dabrafenib in China

Trametinib/Megenin (Trametinib) and dabrafenib (Dabrafenib), as a classic combined targeted therapy combination, are widely used in the treatment of BRAF V600 mutation-positive malignant melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer and other cancers. Both are original imported drugs developed by Novartis. Their domestic pricing strategies and medical insurance coverage have attracted widespread attention. Especially in the context of rising cancer treatment costs, patients are more concerned about cost-effectiveness and reimbursement.

The main specifications of trametinib currently circulating in the Chinese market are2mg (30 tablets/box) and 0.5mg (30 tablets/box). After being included in the medical insurance directory, the proportion of patients paying out of pocket has dropped significantly. Taking the 2mg specification as an example, the price before medical insurance is about just over RMB 10,000. After being reimbursed by medical insurance, the actual burden on patients is significantly reduced. Especially after the results of medical insurance negotiations in many places, trametinib has gradually moved closer to more accessible targeted drugs. In contrast, the main specification of dabrafenib is 50mg (120 capsules/box), with a retail price generally above RMB 10,000. Although it has been included in medical insurance, the dosage is usually higher than that of trametinib, so the overall monthly treatment cost is higher, and some patients still have to pay part of the difference out of pocket.

From the perspective of price trends, since the two drugs entered the Chinese market, they have shown a gradual decline trend with the increase in medical insurance negotiation rounds and the impact of competing generic drugs. In particular, trametinib has participated in many updates to the National Medical Insurance Directory in recent years, and its price has continued to adjust, making it more affordable to the people. Although dabrafenib has also been lowered, its price baseline is relatively high. Therefore, overall, the advantages of trametinib are slightly obvious in terms of cost control, especially in cities where single drug use or medical insurance reimbursement coverage is more stringent.

Of course, trametinib also has certain limitations, such as being only effective against specific types of molecular mutations, and long-term single drug use is prone to drug resistance. Chemotherapy, because of its broad spectrum, is still of great value in patients who cannot undergo genetic testing or are target-negative.

Reference materials:https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB08911