Whether Erdafitinib is included in the medical insurance catalog and can it enjoy national reimbursement policies?

Erdafitinib is an oral FGFR (fibroblast growth factor receptor) inhibitor primarily used to treat patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who harbor FGFR2/3 mutations or fusions. The drug has been officially launched in China, providing relevant patients with a new targeted treatment option. However, erdafitinib has not yet been included in the national medical insurance catalog, which means that patients still have to bear all drug costs at their own expense when using it domestically, and cannot reduce their financial burden through medical insurance reimbursement.

Due to its short time on the market, some domestic hospitals and pharmacies have not fully supplied erdafitinib, making it difficult for patients to purchase the drug directly. In this case, some patients may choose to obtain drugs through overseas channels to ensure continuity and timeliness of treatment. Although this method can meet the medication needs, it requires formal channels and medical guidance to ensure drug quality and medication safety.

In overseas markets, the original drug of erdafitinib is mainly sold as the Hong Kong version of the original drug. The price per box is as high as more than 20,000 yuan, and it needs to be purchased through formal channels such as Hong Kong pharmacies. For patients with limited financial conditions, overseas generic drugs provide viable alternatives, mainly including Laos version and Bangladesh Yaopin International version generic drugs. The price of generic drugs is relatively low, ranging from a few hundred yuan to more than 2,000 yuan per box. The ingredients of the drugs are basically the same as those of the original drugs, and there is little difference in efficacy. However, you still need to pay attention to the legality and safety of the channels for purchasing drugs.

Overall, although erdafitinib is already on the market in China, since it is not covered by medical insurance, patients need to bear the cost themselves and choose the appropriate drug purchase channel based on supply. Overseas original drugs are expensive, while generic drugs are cheap and have consistent ingredients, providing patients with different medication options. During use, patients should undergo treatment under the guidance of a professional doctor, and at the same time pay attention to monitoring the efficacy and adverse reactions to ensure medication safety and therapeutic effect.

Keyword tag:

FGFRInhibitors, urothelial cancer, targeted therapy, medical insurance policy, imported drugs, generic drugs, drug prices, economic burden, formal drug purchase channels

Reference materials:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32935605/