How much does a bottle of acalatinib/acalatinib cost?

Acalabrutinib/Acalabrutinib (Acalabrutinib) is used as a treatment for mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia ( The new generation of BTK inhibitors for CLL (CLL) has high drug development and production costs. In addition, its registration and approval in many countries come from the original drug manufacturer, resulting in a high price for the drug in the global market. Taking the mainland China market as an example, the original imported drug specification of acotinib is 100 mg × 8 tablets × 7 tablets, and the price per box is as high as RMB 40,000, which puts heavy economic pressure on patients who have been taking the medicine for a long time. In overseas markets, such as the United States, the price of a 60-piece package can exceed US$10,000.

Fortunately, with the development of generic drugs and the opening of patent drug markets in some countries, generic versions of acotinib have been released one after another, especially in Southeast Asia (such as Laos, Bangladesh, and India). Among them, the generic version of acotinib launched by a Lao pharmaceutical factory has a specification of 100 mg × 60 tablets, and the price has dropped significantly to about 3,000 yuan, which is only about one-tenth of the price of the original drug. This generic version is consistent with the original version in terms of ingredients and dosage. It has usually been audited by relevant certification agencies and has been used as an alternative in actual treatment by doctors in many countries and regions.

For patients, whether to choose generic drugs is not only a cost issue, but also involves multiple aspects such as drug quality, consistency of efficacy, and local regulatory approvals. Some countries or regions have not officially approved the marketing of generic drugs. Patients who obtain them through purchasing agents and other channels must pay special attention to the legality and safety of the source of the drugs. There are also patients who choose the strategy of "start with original research and maintain with generics" under the guidance of doctors, taking into account both efficacy protection and cost control.

From the perspective of global drug accessibility, the advent of generic versions of acotinib has undoubtedly broadened treatment channels for patients with chronicB cell malignancies. If patients who have long relied on oral BTK inhibitors to control their disease can obtain reasonably priced generic drugs through compliant channels, it will greatly reduce their economic burden, improve treatment compliance, and promote fairness in anti-cancer treatment.

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