How much is the market price of a box of ibrutinib/ibrutinib? Are there any domestic ones?

Ibrutinib is a Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that is widely used to treat a variety of B-cell malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM). Domestically, ibrutinib has been officially introduced to the market and has been included in the scope of Class B reimbursement in the National Medical Insurance Drug Catalogue, which has brought substantial economic burden relief to many patients who have been taking the drug for a long time. At present, the most common specification in China is 140 mg × 90 tablets, and the market price of a box is about 10,000 yuan. After medical insurance reimburses, the actual price paid will drop significantly. The specific amount varies slightly according to the medical insurance policies and patient reimbursement ratios in different regions, but usually the out-of-pocket amount can be controlled within a few thousand yuan.

In contrast, the selling price of ibrutinib overseas is generally higher, especially in the United States and other regions, where the price of the original drug was once as high as more than $10,000 per month making it impossible for many patients to afford it in the long term. Fortunately, several generic versions have appeared in some overseas markets, especially BTK inhibitors produced in India, Bangladesh and other countries. The most well-known of them is the generic version of ibrutinib produced by Beacon Pharma of Bangladesh. Its product ingredients are the same as the original drug, but the price is significantly cheaper. Taking the packaging specification of 140 mg × 112 tablets as an example, the market price is about RMB 2,000 to 3,000 yuan, which is extremely cost-effective. Therefore, it has become an important alternative for many overseas patients or patients who are not covered by medical insurance.

At present, the original version of ibrutinib is still mainly sold in China, and no domestic company has yet completed the launch of a generic version of the drug. Although some domestic pharmaceutical companies are developing similar BTK inhibitors or generic products of ibrutinib, these products have not yet entered the clinical use stage due to restrictions on patent protection, clinical trials and approval processes.

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