Is Erdafitinib currently included in the National Medical Insurance List?

Erdafitinib is an oral targeted drug used to treat locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (mainly bladder cancer) carrying FGFR2 or FGFR3 gene mutations. The drug was developed by Johnson & Johnson and was approved by the US FDA in 2019. As the world's first FGFR inhibitor oral drug, erdafitinib provides a new treatment option for some bladder cancer patients who have poor response to traditional treatments. It has clear efficacy and is one of the important achievements of precision therapy.

At present, erdafitinib has been successfully launched in mainland China, but has not yet been included in the national medical insurance directory. Due to the short time to market, the distribution rate of domestic hospitals and pharmacies is not high, causing many patients to face certain difficulties in the actual purchase of drugs. In addition, because it is not within the scope of medical insurance reimbursement, patients must bear the cost of the medicine at their own expense, which is a considerable burden for patients with average financial conditions.

In order to seek more reasonably priced treatment options, some patients choose to purchase erdafitinib through overseas channels. More common in overseas markets is the original version from Hong Kong, China. The specifications are the same as in China, but the price is generally higher. The price of a box may be as high as more than 20,000 yuan. It usually needs to be obtained through Hong Kong pharmacies or third-party purchasing agents. Legal compliance also needs to be ensured during the purchase and transportation process.

It is worth noting that there are also generic versions of erdafitinib on the market, such as the Lao version and the Bangladesh Yaopin International version. The ingredients of these generic drugs are basically the same as those of the original drugs, and the prices are more affordable. The price of a box ranges from a few hundred yuan to more than 2,000 yuan. They are an alternative option chosen by many patients with limited financial conditions under the guidance of doctors. However, whether they choose original drugs or generic drugs, patients should ensure that the sources are regular and of reliable quality when purchasing and using the drugs, and their suitability and safety should be evaluated by professional doctors.

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