Does Cabozantinib’s latest medical insurance policy cover all indications?

As of now, cabozantinib has not been officially approved for marketing in mainland China, and therefore has not yet entered the national medical insurance drug catalog. This means that regardless of its approved indications abroad (such as renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, medullary thyroid cancer, etc.), it cannot be obtained through medical insurance reimbursement in China. If patients need to use the drug, they can only purchase it through regular overseas channels. All related costs must be borne at their own expense, which is a heavy financial burden. If the State Food and Drug Administration approves the drug and enters it into medical insurance in the future, it will need to be reviewed one by one according to the indications, and it may not necessarily cover all treatment areas.

At present, the original drug of cabozantinib has been widely marketed in many countries and regions, including Europe, Hong Kong, Japan and Turkey. Drug prices vary slightly in different countries. For example, the European and Japanese versions of cabozantinib are generally priced higher, with the price per box ranging from more than 20,000 yuan to more than 50,000 yuan. The price is affected by factors such as packaging specifications, currency exchange rates, and policy differences. The quality of these original drugs is guaranteed, but they are expensive, which limits the scope of use for some patients.

For patients with greater financial pressure, the generic cabozantinib drugs already on the market in Laos and Bangladesh provide a more cost-effective option. The ingredients of these generic drugs are basically the same as those of the original drugs. Common specifications include 20 mg 90 tablets, 60 mg 30 tablets and 80 mg * 30 tablets. The prices range from more than 500 yuan to one to two thousand yuan. For patients with clear indications and medication guidance by professional doctors, the generic version of cabozantinib can not only reduce the financial burden, but also better ensure the continuity and effect of treatment.

Because cabozantinib has a wide range of indications and proven efficacy internationally, and is recommended by multiple guidelines especially in the treatment of kidney cancer and liver cancer, domestic cancer patients have an increasing demand for it. In the future, if cabozantinib can be approved for marketing in China as soon as possible and entered into the national medical insurance directory, it is expected to give priority to the treatment indications of high-risk cancer types such as kidney cancer and liver cancer. However, whether all indications are fully covered still needs to be adjusted based on the approval progress of the national drug regulatory department and medical insurance policies. At present, patients should rationally evaluate the efficacy and economic costs under the guidance of doctors, and choose the appropriate version and channel to purchase drugs.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/