How much does a bottle of Etrasimod-Velsipity cost in the Chinese market?

Itramod (Etrasimod) is an oral small molecule drug developed byArena Pharmaceuticals and later marketed by Pfizer. Its main mechanism of action is to selectively regulate sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor subtypes, thereby affecting the migration and distribution of immune cells. The drug is clinically used to treat moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC). For patients who have long-term dependence on traditional glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants but have poor efficacy, Itrimod provides a new treatment option. It relieves mucosal inflammation, improves symptoms and prolongs remission by reducing the entry of peripheral lymphocytes into areas of intestinal inflammation.

Globally, the United StatesFDA has officially approved the listing of Velsipity in October 2023, and it will soon enter the sales stage in the European and American markets. Currently, the European and American versions of the original drugs are available to patients, and overseas prices are generally high. According to data, the price per box is roughly between 10,000 and 30,000 yuan. Since the drug has not yet been approved for marketing in China, domestic hospitals and pharmacies are temporarily unable to purchase itrimod through formal channels. In terms of medical insurance policy, it has not yet been included in China's medical insurance catalog, which also means that if patients choose to purchase it through cross-border channels, the financial burden will be relatively heavy.

Currently, there are no generic versions of drugs on the market, and original drugs are still the main products globally, which has pushed up the price level to a certain extent. As the attention of domestic companies increases in the future, it is not ruled out that local companies will apply to introduce or carry out clinical trials, thus promoting its localization and price reduction.

From the perspective of medical application,Velsipity’s advantage lies not only in its precise efficacy, but also in its good oral convenience, making it easier to adhere to for a long time compared with some biological agents that require injection. At the same time, overseas studies show that the drug is relatively well tolerated and the safety risks are controllable.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/mtm/etrasimod.html