Isatuximab (Isatuximab) price, market reference and analysis of drug purchase channels in various regions

After isatuximab was launched in China, the most concerning issue was the actual cost of purchasing the drug. According to current public market information, the price of purchasing a bottle in a Chinese hospital pharmacy is approximately more than 12,000 yuan, and it has been included in medical insurance. For people who take long-term multiple myeloma medication, this price will undoubtedly bring greater economic pressure. Therefore, many patients will pay attention to the price differences between hospitals in different regions, supply stability, and whether the burden can be reduced through charity projects or special hospital support. However, currently domestic related assistance channels are still relatively limited.

In overseas markets, the overall price of isatuximab is slightly higher. One bottle of the original drug costs about US$3,000 in countries such as Europe and the United States, which is much higher than the domestic purchase cost in RMB equivalent. Although some patients will consider purchasing from regular overseas channels, due to restrictions such as cold chain transportation, customs clearance, and clinical use specifications, not only is the process complicated, but the overall cost and risk are no more advantageous than purchasing drugs domestically. At the same time, there is no global generic version of the drug, so it is difficult for the price to drop significantly. Patients usually need to be evaluated by a doctor before choosing to purchase drugs overseas to ensure that the source of the drug is regular, safe and reliable.

The main channel for purchasing drugs in China is still the hematology or oncology pharmacies of large tertiary hospitals. Some provinces and cities are well-equipped and can provide a more stable supply. However, in some areas, because the drugs have just been launched, hospitals may not have fully introduced them. Therefore, patients often need to confirm the inventory with the hospital in advance before seeing a doctor. For patients who purchase medicines across provinces, they can also check the online issuance and delivery status at medical institutions with Internet hospital qualifications. However, because the medicines are monoclonal antibodies for injection, they still need to return to the hospital for standardized infusion, and the entire process cannot be completely solved online.

Overall, the drug purchase cost of isatuximab is relatively high, and whether the price will be further adjusted in the future is closely related to the stability of its supply chain and the expansion of the domestic market. In the short term, if patients want to reduce their financial burden, they can communicate with their attending doctors about whether more sophisticated treatment course management, combined medication strategies, etc. can be adopted to increase treatment benefits. At the same time, you can also pay attention to the national medical insurance negotiations or the introduction of hospital pharmaceutical committees. Once the policy changes, its clinical accessibility and patient burden are expected to improve.

Reference materials:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8497289/