What is the approximate latest price of a box of tofacitinib in pharmacies or hospitals?

Tofacitinib is the world's first approved JAK inhibitor. Its main indications include moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC). In these diseases, patients usually experience pain, joint destruction or intestinal ulcers caused by long-term chronic inflammation. Traditional treatments such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine or glucocorticoids are ineffective or accompanied by strong side effects in some patients. Tofacitinib, as an oral small molecule targeted drug, effectively blocks the signaling pathways of multiple key pro-inflammatory factors such as IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-23, etc. by inhibiting JAK1 and JAK3, thereby reducing immune attack, improving symptoms and delaying disease progression.

In the domestic market, tofacitinib is marketed as an original drug by Pfizer in the form of "tofacitinib citrate tablets"and has been included in the national medical insurance catalog as a Class B drug. After medical insurance reimbursement, the price paid by the patient is relatively reasonable. The common specification is 5mg tablets, and each box is usually 60 tablets. After medical insurance reimbursement, the price may be within a few hundred yuan. The specific amount fluctuates according to the reimbursement ratio of local medical insurance. After a prescription is issued in the hospital, patients can purchase it through regular pharmacies or medical insurance designated hospital pharmacies.

At the same time, as the patent expires, some countries such as Bangladesh and India have also launched generic drugs of tofacitinib. The ingredients of the generic drugs are consistent with the original drug, and the dosage and effect are similar in most studies. For example, the price of generic tofacitinib produced by a Bangladesh pharmaceutical factory in a 5mg*60-tablet package is about 200 yuan, which is significantly lower than the original drug, making it an option for many patients with limited economic conditions. However, it needs to be emphasized that these overseas generic drugs have not been officially approved for marketing in China. If patients need to use them, they should obtain them through legal channels and take the drugs under the guidance of a doctor.

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