Where to buy tocilizumab

The original drug of tocilizumab has been approved for marketing in the United States, China and other regions. The domestic tocilizumab antigenic drug has entered the scope of medical insurance. The reimbursement ratios are different in different regions, and the prices after reimbursement are different. It can be purchased in domestic pharmacies or hospitals. Tocilizumab generic drugs marketed overseas can also be selected through formal channels.

Tocilizumab is indicated for the treatment of children with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis(RA), giant cell arteritis(GCA), and active polyarthritis in young children Adult patients with idiopathic arthritis (PJIA), systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA), and some patients with an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Tocilizumab may also slow the rate of decline in lung function in adults with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). In the current supplement, tocilizumab is indicated for the treatment of hospitalized adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Since the original drug of tocilizumab has been on the market for a short time, it may be limited to second-line treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients whose disease activity has decreased by less than 50% after 3-6 months of traditional DMARDs treatment. Tocilizumab injection can only be used as directed by the doctor. Its price is around 8,600 yuan, 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.