Whether Erdafitinib can be purchased in domestic hospital pharmacies and its accessibility analysis

Erdafitinib (Erdafitinib), as an oral targeted drug targeting FGFR2/FGFR3 gene mutations, has been approved for marketing in China. However, since it has not been included in medical insurance, its accessibility in domestic hospital pharmacies still has certain limitations. Some large tertiary hospitals may gradually put it on the shelves due to department needs and approval from the Pharmacy Council, but most hospitals have not yet generally stocked it. Therefore, even if it has been approved for marketing in China, patients who want to purchase it directly from hospital pharmacies may still encounter situations where "the medicine has not yet been received" or "advance appointment application is required", and the overall accessibility is relatively limited. Patients can consult the oncology department or pharmacy department of their local hospital in advance to confirm whether they can purchase it before using it.

Secondly, due to the short time erdafitinib has been on the market in China, the supply chain is still in the stage of gradual establishment, and some areas may not be able to purchase spot products for the time being. Some hospitals adopt the "case-by-case application" model, in which doctors submit medication applications based on the patient's specific conditions, and then the hospital's pharmaceutical department orders the medication from the supplier. The entire process may require a certain waiting period. Therefore, in the short term, there are still few domestic access channels for patients, and continuous medication may be affected by the speed of supply. Cancer patients who require long-term medication need to plan in advance.

At the same time, overseas channels have become the choice of many patients. Among them, the Hong Kong original version of erdafitinib is the most common. The price is usually more than 20,000 yuan per box and can be purchased through regular pharmacies in Hong Kong or overseas medical institutions. This version is an original research drug, and its quality is consistent with the domestically marketed version, but it is more expensive and requires cross-border purchase, which puts greater financial pressure on some patients. In addition, some patients will choose to order drugs through third-party cross-border pharmaceutical services, but they need to ensure that the channels are formal to avoid buying products from unknown sources.

Finally, foreign generic drugs have significantly reduced the financial burden on patients, especially the Laos and Bangladeshi generic drugs, which range in price from a few hundred yuan to more than 2,000 yuan. The ingredients of the drugs are basically the same as the original drugs, and they have been used by patients in many countries for a long time. The appeal of generic drugs lies in their lower cost and more stable supply, but they need to be produced by legal pharmaceutical companies and purchased through formal channels to avoid quality risks. Overall, the accessibility of erdafitinib in China is still in the transitional stage. Patients can choose the appropriate way to purchase the drug under the guidance of a doctor based on their economic situation, regional conditions and disease urgency.

Keyword tag:

Erdafitinib, FGFR inhibitor, urothelial cancer, domestic purchase, accessibility, price, medical insurance, generic drugs, original drugs, overseas drug purchase

Reference:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdafitinib