Whether tofacitinib and tofacitinib citrate tablets are equivalent and the differences between different versions

Tofacitinib is a small molecule JAK inhibitor that is widely used in immune-related diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis. In domestic clinical practice, the common dosage form is tofacitinib citrate tablets, which are actually a salt form of tofacitinib, not a different drug. The active ingredient released by both drugs after entering the body is tofacitinib, so they are equivalent in terms of pharmacological effects, efficacy and indications.

From the perspective of equivalence, tofacitinib citrate tablets only improve the stability and preparation process of the drug by changing the chemical salt form, and its core active ingredients have not changed. As long as the dosage conversion is accurate and meets the national drug review standards, tofacitinib citrate tablets and tofacitinib can be used as equivalent in terms of clinical efficacy and safety, and patients usually do not need to worry about the problem of "different efficacy under different names".

In terms of price and medical insurance, tofacitinib has been launched in China and has been included in Class B medical insurance. The price after medical insurance payment has dropped significantly. After the common tofacitinib citrate tablets are reimbursed by medical insurance, the patient's out-of-pocket cost may only range from tens to hundreds of yuan. The specific amount is related to regional reimbursement ratio, specification and dosage and other factors. This is also one of the important advantages of domestic patients using this drug.

In overseas markets, there are also various generic versions of tofacitinib. For example, the generic version of the drug produced in Laos is priced at about 200 yuan per box, which may fluctuate due to exchange rates. The ingredients of these generic drugs are basically the same as those of domestic original drugs, but there are differences in production standards, regulatory systems and access channels. When choosing different versions, patients should comprehensively consider medical insurance policies, financial affordability, and medication safety, and use them under the guidance of a doctor.

Keyword tags: tofacitinib,JAKinhibitor, rheumatoid arthritis, long-term medication, infection risk

Reference materials:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572148/