Ivonib has outstanding efficacy in treating acute myeloid leukemia, and foreign generic drugs are more suitable for ordinary family patients

With the rapid development of medical treatment, cancer"targeted drugs" have become the "light of hope" in the eyes of countless cancer patients. After a series of star targeted drugs such as ibrutinib, larotrectinib, and olaparib attracted attention, a new drug called Ivosidenib (Ivosidenib) has gradually come into public view, especially in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and cholangiocarcinoma. It has shown promising treatment prospects.

It is exciting that ivonib is now officially launched in China, filling the gap of lack of effective treatment options for some patients with IDH1 mutations. However, the reality is also worrying: since it has not yet been included in the medical insurance catalog, the domestic price of ivonib is as high as 30,000 to 40,000 yuan per box, which is a heavy financial burden for ordinary families. In contrast, the price of foreign imitation versions is only around 3000 yuan, and the price advantage is extremely obvious.

What is Ivosidenib (Ivosidenib)? Why is it receiving so much attention?

Ivonib is an inhibitor of isocitrate dehydrogenase1 type (IDH1), produced by the United StatesAgios Developed by Pharmaceuticals Company, it was first approved for use byFDA in 2018 It is used to treat IDH1 mutant relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and has since been approved for use in indications such as cholangiocarcinoma.

IDH1Gene mutations can cause metabolic disorders in cancer cells and form carcinogenic metabolites2-HG, thereby inhibiting normal cell differentiation and promoting carcinogenesis. Ivonib highly selectively inhibits the IDH1 mutant protein, reduces 2-HG levels, restores the normal differentiation and death mechanism of tumor cells, and "restarts" the anti-cancer pathway from the root.

According to the clinical data released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in 2022, ivonib is effective in IDH1Patients with mutated cholangiocarcinoma have demonstrated significant advantages in extending progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). This is a significant therapeutic breakthrough, especially for intermediate-to-advanced patients who lack standard treatment pathways.

Domestic selling price“30,000 to 40,000” is staggering and has not been included in medical insurance

According to patients’ reports, the current price of purchasing Avonib in mainland China through regular hospital pharmacies is about 3.2 ten thousand yuan to 4 ten thousand yuan. The specific price fluctuates slightly according to hospital channels and dosage specifications. Considering that most patients need to continue taking medication for several months or even longer, the total cost of treatment is often as high as hundreds of thousands of yuan. For ordinary families, medication is almost a "bankruptcy".

What is even more regrettable is that ivonib has not yet been included in the national medical insurance directory, which means that patients must bear the full cost out of pocket and cannot enjoy the medical insurance reimbursement burden reduction mechanism. In contrast, although the price of similar IDH2 target drug entecavir (Enasidenib) is also high overseas, some countries have launched medical insurance coverage or assistance projects to improve patient accessibility.

Although China is gradually advancing the price negotiation for targeted drugs and the dynamic adjustment mechanism of the medical insurance catalog, ivonib has not yet entered the "candidate pool" of the medical insurance due to its short time on the market. It is expected that patients will still have to bear all treatment costs at their own expense in the near future.

The price advantage of foreign generic drugs is obvious, the Laos version only costs 3000Diversified

Due to the high prices of genuine drugs, more and more domestic patients are turning their attention to overseas generic drug markets. According to data, pharmaceutical companies such as Lao Luqius (Luqius) have launched a generic version of Ivonib, with the same specifications as the original drug, but the price is as low as 3,000 yuan per box, which is nearly 90% cheaper than the price of the domestic genuine version.

More importantly, the ingredients, dosage, and mechanism of action of generic drugs are highly consistent with the original drugs. They have been widely used in clinical practice in many countries (such as Bangladesh and Laos), and their safety and efficacy have also been verified to a certain extent. For patients with limited financial conditions but strong treatment needs, generic drugs undoubtedly provide a pragmatic and feasible solution.

However, it needs to be emphasized that if patients choose overseas generic drugs, they should purchase them through formal cross-border drug purchasing platforms or medical institutions to avoid falling into the trap of fake and inferior drugs due to online shopping on their own. In addition, purchasing generic drugs cannot replace the advice of a doctor, and the entire process of management and efficacy monitoring should be carried out under the guidance of a professional medical team.

How do patients weigh their drug purchasing choices? Original research VS Realistic considerations of imitation

✅ Advantages of original research drugs:

The approval is legal and the listing channel is formal;

Supported by more clinical trials and real-world data;

Medication is safe and controllable, and doctors are familiar with it;

Treatment at home is more consistent and standardized.

✅ Advantages of generic drugs:

The price advantage is huge and the economic burden is significantly reduced;

Suitable for patients who take long-term medication and cannot be covered by medical insurance;

Overseas experience has gradually accumulated, and the efficacy has been initially verified.

Suggestions:

If the family's financial situation allows, it is recommended to give priority to domestic original drugs and enjoy full guidance from doctors; if the burden is heavy and long-term medication is required, generic drugs can be purchased through regular channels after a doctor's evaluation, but close follow-up and monitoring of efficacy and side effects are required.

Policy Trends and Future Outlook: How likely is it that avonib will be included in medical insurance?

In recent years, the China Medical Security Administration has vigorously promoted"price reduction of high-priced targeted drugs+For example, many targeted drugs such as osimertinib, ametinib, and larotrectinib have been included in medical insurance, which has greatly improved drug accessibility for patients. Considering the clear treatment population, large clinical benefits, precise targets, and strong market demand of ivonib, the industry generally predicts that the drug is likely to enter the medical insurance negotiation sequence in the next 1-2 years.

In addition, the state encourages the development of domestic substitute and generic drug research and development. If a domestic pharmaceutical company successfully applies for a generic version of ivonib and is approved for marketing in the future, it is expected to further lower the market price and form a dual-track competition between original research and domestic generic drugs, thereby benefiting a wider patient group.

Written at the end: It’s not that medicine is expensive, but that life is more precious

The emergence of ivonib has brought a real treatment option to patients with IDH1 mutation-related cancers. However, the current high drug prices have undoubtedly become a huge obstacle preventing some patients from receiving standardized treatment. Fortunately, the rapid follow-up of generic drugs has provided patients with more choices, but how to find a balance between efficacy, safety and price is still a real problem that every patient and family must face.

In the future, we hope that this drug will be included in the medical insurance catalog as soon as possible, or that more domestic generic drugs will be launched on the market, further improving the living conditions and economic burden of patients. For every patient suffering from a disease, the availability of medicine should not be the threshold between life and death, but the starting point of hope.

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References:

1.FDAOfficial website aboutIvosidenib approval information: https://www.fda.gov

2.ClinicalTrials.govDatabase IvosidenibClinical data: https://clinicaltrials.gov

3.PubMed: Study on the mechanism and efficacy of Ivosidenib in AML and cholangiocarcinoma

4.ASCOAnnual meeting information summary:https://www.asco.org