Can tocilizumab be reimbursed by medical insurance?

Domestic tocilizumab can be reimbursed by medical insurance, but it is limited to second-line treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis whose disease activity has decreased by less than 50% after 3-6 months of traditional DMARDs treatment. Tocilizumab is an injection preparation. Patients can purchase tocilizumab based on the doctor’s prescription information. This drug can only be purchased through the doctor’s prescription information. The reimbursement ratio is different in different regions, and the price after reimbursement will be different.

Tocilizumab injection belongs to a class of drugs called interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitors. It works by blocking the activity of interleukin-6, a substance in the body that causes inflammation. Tocilizumab is approved by the FDA for the adult treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and giant cell arteritis, and for the pediatric treatment of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Tocilizumabhas non-FDA indications for use in the treatment of COVID-19. This activity highlights the role of the interprofessional team in managing the prescribing of tocilizumab for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, giant cell arteritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Tocilizumab The original drug has been on the market for a short time in China, and its price is around RMB 8,600, which is relatively expensive. The price of the European version of tocilizumab original drug available overseas is around around RMB 14,000 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The ingredients and efficacy of the two drugs are basically the same. Currently, there are no generic drugs produced and marketed overseas, and patients can choose by themselves.