Analysis of the price advantages of domestic Crizotinib compared to imported drugs

The launch of domestically produced crizotinib provides a new option for domestic ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer patients, and further promotes a more rational price system for this drug. At present, the original drug of crizotinib has been marketed in China and is included in the medical insurance. The common specifications are 250mg×60 tablets and 200mg×60 tablets. The price of a single box may exceed 60 tablets without reimbursement. Ten thousand yuan. Due to entering the medical insurance directory, the actual price will vary depending on factors such as regional policies, reimbursement ratios, payment standards in the medical insurance directory, etc. Many patients can reduce their out-of-pocket ratio to a more affordable range. The domestic version has just been launched, and the price is still not fully disclosed. However, according to the past trend of domestic substitution, the price is expected to be further reduced in the future.

Compared with imported original drugs, the biggest advantage of domestically produced crizotinib is its improved accessibility and potential price reduction. Domestic drugs are produced in accordance with national standards in terms of chemical structure, active ingredients, bioequivalence, etc., and are basically consistent with the original drugs. Therefore, they can usually achieve clinical equivalence in terms of actual efficacy and safety. As domestic manufacturers join the competition, the supply chain becomes more stable, patients no longer have to rely on a single brand or import cycle, and the difficulty of obtaining drugs is greatly reduced. In addition, the inclusion of domestically produced drugs in the medical insurance catalog can further reduce out-of-pocket expenses and make long-term treatment more secure for more patients.

From the perspective of the international market, the original drug crizotinib is also a high-priced drug overseas, and the price of a box in many countries may exceed more than 10,000 yuan. Affected by exchange rate fluctuations, local taxes and fees, and differences in national medical insurance systems, the cost of purchasing original drugs overseas is no lower than domestically, and may even be higher in some areas. Therefore, most patients do not have the economic advantage of obtaining original drugs from overseas. The only lower-cost options come from generic drugs from some countries, such as the 250mg×60 capsule version from Lucius Pharmaceuticals in Laos. The price is only more than 1,000 yuan, which significantly reduces the cost of medication. The ingredients of these generic drugs are basically the same as the original drugs, but they need to be purchased through formal channels to ensure quality, safety and compliance.

Taken together, the emergence of domestically produced crizotinib makes domestic patients more flexible in their choices: if they want to obtain medical insurance support and drugs with controllable quality and stable supply, domestic drugs and domestic original drugs are suitable choices; if they need extremely low prices and pursue economy rather than medical insurance reimbursement, overseas generic drugs can be used as an auxiliary option; while overseas original drugs are expensive and do not have obvious advantages. In the future, as the domestic crizotinib market gradually matures, its price competition will further promote the overall cost reduction, allowing more patients to benefit from long-term treatment.

Reference materials:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24756793/