The approximate annual cost of durvalumab (durvalumab) and the reimbursement status of medical insurance

Durvalumab (Durvalumab) is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that is widely used to treat a variety of malignant tumors including non-small cell lung cancer and bladder cancer. At present, the drug has been officially launched in mainland China, but it has not yet been included in the national medical insurance directory. Therefore, for ordinary patients, its annual treatment cost is still an important consideration.

In China, the common specifications of durvalumab include 120mg/2.4mL and 500mg/10mL. According to the current market price, each box of 120mg is priced at approximately more than 4,000 yuan, while the large size of 500mg may be as high as more than 10,000 yuan. During the treatment process, the dosage of the drug depends on the patient's weight and the doctor's specific medication plan. It is generally infused every 2 weeks or 4 weeks. If calculated according to the conventional dose (10mg/kg, once every two weeks), the treatment cost in one year may easily exceed 200,000 yuan, which will bring great financial pressure to the family.

In contrast, durvalumab is also supplied by AstraZeneca in overseas markets. The price of the common 120mg specification in European and American pharmacies is about US$1,000, which is equivalent to about 7,000 to 8,000 yuan in RMB. The price may fluctuate due to the influence of international exchange rates and channels. Currently, no generic version of durvalumab has been approved for marketing, so there are no cheaper alternatives to choose from. As a result, patients basically have to rely on the original drug, further increasing their burden.
Since the drug has not yet been included in China's medical insurance catalog, patients cannot enjoy medical insurance reimbursement when taking the drug and can only bear all costs at their own expense. Some areas may partially alleviate financial pressure through charitable assistance, Patient Assistance Programs (PAP), or commercial medical insurance, but overall, the out-of-pocket rate is still high. If durvalumab can be included in the medical insurance catalog in the future, it is expected to significantly reduce patients’ treatment costs, expand drug accessibility, and improve the survival hopes of patients with intermediate and advanced tumors. For patients currently receiving treatment with this drug, it is recommended to communicate with the hospital or professional institution to learn about the latest price support policies and assistance programs to obtain maximum protection.
Reference: https://www.imfinzi.com/