How much does it cost to take durvalumab for one year?

Durvalumab/Durvalumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that belongs to the anti-PD-L1 (programmed death ligand 1) monoclonal antibody class. It blocks the binding of PD-L1 on the surface of tumor cells to the PD-1 receptor on T cells, thereby removing the tumor's suppression of the immune system, thereby restoring and enhancing the patient's own immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumor cells.

Durvalumab is widely used in the treatment of various cancers, especially in solid tumors such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma and urothelial cancer. In the field of non-small cell lung cancer, it is especially suitable for patients with stage III unresectable and stable after radiotherapy and chemotherapy to prolong progression-free survival in the form of consolidation therapy. In various advanced tumors such as small cell lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, durvalumab is often used in combination with chemotherapy or other targeted drugs to improve the efficacy.

Regarding the treatment cost of durvalumab, although it has been launched in China, it has not been included in medical insurance, so the burden on patients is relatively heavy. Common specifications include 120mg/2.4mL and 500mg/10mL. The price of a single box ranges from 4,000 yuan to more than 10,000 yuan. The specific price varies depending on sales channels and regions. The overseas market price is roughly around one thousand US dollars per box, which is higher when converted into RMB.

During clinical treatment, durvalumab is generally infused intravenously once every 2 to 4 weeks. The specific frequency and dose of medication depend on the patient's weight and indications. Calculated based on standard dosage and course of treatment, the annual cost may be as high as hundreds of thousands of yuan, which has become the main reason for the treatment burden for many patients. With the gradual improvement of domestic medical insurance policies and the development of generic drugs, the cost of durvalumab treatment is expected to be alleviated to a certain extent in the future, allowing more patients to enjoy the clinical benefits of this type of advanced immunotherapy.

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