How much does ruxolitinib/ruxolitinib cream cost after medical insurance reimburses it?

Ruxolitinib/ruxolitinib cream (Ruxolitinib) was originally developed by Incyte Company and is currently on the market under the trade name Opzelura in the United States, the European Union and other places. It is mainly suitable for topical treatment of non-segmental vitiligo and mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD), especially for patients aged 12 years and above. As the first JAK inhibitor cream for vitiligo, this drug has strong immune regulation ability, can reverse melanocyte dysfunction, and improve pigment recovery of skin lesions from the root cause.

Currently, ruxolitinib cream has not yet been officially launched in mainland China, and therefore has not yet been included in the national medical insurance directory. This means that if patients need medication, most of them need to purchase it themselves through overseas drug purchase services or cross-border medical platforms. In foreign markets, the price of the original drug Opzelura is not low. Taking the European market as an example, the retail price of each 60g cream is 20,000 yuan (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates). In some countries, such as Bangladesh, lower-priced generic drugs have begun to appear. The price may be half or even lower than the original drug, ranging from hundreds of dollars per pill. But at present, both original research and imitation versions are self-funded in the country.

At the level of medical insurance policy, based on the clinical needs of vitiligo in China and the availability of drugs, a variety of immunomodulators have been included in the medical insurance catalog in recent years. However, since ruxolitinib cream is still in the regulatory approval process, it is unlikely to be included in medical insurance reimbursement in the short term. However, in some places there may be special drug reimbursement mechanisms to support the use of new vitiligo drugs.

As it is not on the market in China, if patients want to use ruxolitinib cream, they can only purchase it through relevant overseas channels, but they need to pay special attention to the legality and authenticity of the source of the drug. During use, it is necessary to avoid external use in combination with other hormone drugs to reduce skin sensitivity and side effects.

Reference: https://www.opzelura.com/