Approximate cost of complete one-year treatment with durvalumab (durvalumab) and analysis of influencing factors

Durvalumab (Durvalumab) is a PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, mainly used for the adjuvant treatment of locally advanced unresectable non-small cell lung cancer and certain types of urothelial cancer. The treatment regimen is usually intravenous infusion every two weeks or adjusted based on the clinician's recommendations. Since the treatment cycle is long and mostly maintenance therapy, the patient's complete treatment cost for one year is directly affected by the unit price of the drug and the frequency of administration.

In the domestic market, durvalumab has not yet been included in medical insurance. The common specifications are 120mg/2.4mL and 500mg/10mL. The price per box ranges from 4,000 to more than 10,000 yuan. Calculated based on a regular dose once every two weeks, approximately 26 infusions are required in a year. If a box of 120 mg medicine is used at a single time, the annual drug cost may be more than 100,000 yuan. If the 500mg strength is used, the cost will be higher, and additional costs due to weight and dosage adjustments need to be considered.

The price in overseas markets is relatively high. 120mg/2.4mL Each box is priced at more than a thousand US dollars, which is equivalent to about 7,000 to 8,000 yuan in RMB. For a full year of treatment, the cost can exceed $200,000 (prices may fluctuate due to exchange rates). In addition, there is currently no generic version of durvalumab on the market, so it is impossible to reduce the overall treatment cost through low-priced generic drugs.

Factors that affect annual treatment costs include patient weight, dose adjustments, dosing intervals, number of infusions, and hospital and regional differences in charges. Individualized treatment options and clinical response may also cause costs to fluctuate. For example, some patients may need to adjust the dose or extend the interval due to abnormalities in hematology or liver and kidney function, thus affecting the overall drug cost. Taking into account the drug unit price, medication cycle and patient conditions, the complete treatment cost for one year is usually more than 100,000 to 200,000 yuan. Economic evaluation and medical insurance policy consultation are required in advance.

Keyword tags: durvalumab, PD-L1 inhibitor, non-small cell lung cancer, urothelial cancer, immunotherapy cost

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