How much does it cost to use axitinib/axitinib for one year?

Axitinib/Axitinib is an anti-angiogenesis targeted drug mainly used for the second-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. The annual treatment cost is affected by many factors, including dosage, drug version (original research or generic), medical insurance reimbursement policy, and specific treatment length. Based on the recommended starting dose, treatment with axitinib is usually initiated at a dose of 5 mg taken twice daily approximately 12 hours apart. In clinical application, doctors will adjust the dose according to the patient's response, and can increase it up to 10 mg twice a day.

In China, the original drug of axitinib has been launched and is included in the reimbursement scope of Class B medical insurance, which has reduced the financial burden on patients. Common specifications include1mg 14 tablets and 5mg 28 tablets. Taking the specification of 5mg*28 tablets as an example, its price is usually more than 2,000 yuan.

In overseas markets, the price of the original drug of axitinib is relatively high, and usually the price per box may reach around RMB 6,000. In addition, there are also some generic axitinib drugs on the market overseas, such as the Laos version, the Indian version and the Bangladesh version. The ingredients of these generic drugs are basically the same as the original drugs, and the price is relatively cheap, often selling for about 1,000 yuan per box. However, prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuations and are subject to change.

If the patient considers long-term use of axitinib, for example, one year, based on daily dosage, assuming that 5mg*28 tablets are used as a basis, more than 20 boxes will be needed per year, so the total cost may be nearly 60,000 yuan. If you choose to use generic drugs, the cost may be reduced accordingly, with the annual cost being approximately RMB 20,000. However, patients still need to consider the quality and origin of the medicine when making their choice.

Reference materials:https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/inlyta