One-month cost and price changes of brigatinib/brigatinib

Brigatinib/Brigatinib (Brigatinib) is a second-generation oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to treat ALK fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Its unique irreversible mechanism allows it to maintain a high therapeutic effect despite ALK mutations and drug resistance. It also provides an important long-term management tool for patients with ALK-positive advanced lung cancer.

In adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer, the usual regimen of brigatinib is: 90 mg orally daily for the first seven days of the initial dose followed by a maintenance dose of 180 mg orally daily. Calculated according to this plan, the dosage for one month is mainly based on the maintenance dose, which is 180 mg per day, which is approximately 30 tablets of 180 mg medicine for one month. Due to the impact of original drugs on research and development costs, market pricing and medical insurance coverage, the domestic price per box is usually close to 10,000 yuan, and patients' monthly drug costs are relatively high.

The situation in overseas markets is quite different. On the one hand, drug prices in some countries or regions fluctuate significantly due to differences in policies, exchange rates, and medical insurance systems; on the other hand, the emergence of generic drugs has significantly reduced drug costs. For example, some pharmaceutical factories in Laos produce generic drugs in packages of 90mg*30 tablets, which cost about RMB 500 per box. The ingredients of the drugs are basically the same as those of the original drugs, making them a more economical choice for clinical applications. This type of generic drugs has obvious advantages in cost control and also provides a feasible long-term treatment path for patients with limited financial conditions.

Changes in the price of brigatinib are not only affected by regional differences, but also related to exchange rate fluctuations, adjustments to medical insurance policies, and drug supply and demand. After domestic drugs were included in the Category B medical insurance catalog, the proportion of individual payments by patients has been reduced, which has significantly improved the accessibility of drugs. At the same time, as more generic drugs are approved for marketing, prices in the domestic market may further stabilize, providing patients with more flexible medication options.

Reference materials:https://www.alunbrig.com/