Is ritexitinib capsule a self-paid drug?

Ritlecitinib (Ritlecitinib) is a selective dual Janus kinase (JAK3) and tyrosine protein (TEC) kinase inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with severe alopecia areata (AA). The FDA approved ritexitinib for AA in June 2023. In clinical trials of ritixitinib, severe AA was defined as 50% or more scalp hair loss. The FDA approval does not clearly define severe AA by the percentage of scalp hair lost.

Alopecia areata in alopecia areata involves an immune system attack on hair follicles that disrupts the hair growth cycle, causing hair to fall out. Signaling molecules called cytokines cause this attack through pathways that utilize members of the Janus kinase (JAK) family of protein messengers in cells. Small molecules called JAK inhibitors block the activity of immune signaling pathways by binding to proteins involved in attacking hair follicles in AA. Ritexitinib is a selective dual JAK3/TEC inhibitor. By blocking JAK3 signaling, fewer cytokines are produced and less inflammation occurs, allowing hair to regenerate.

Although the original drug of ritexitinib has been approved for marketing in China, it is not yet covered by medical insurance. This means that patients typically bear the entire cost of the drug when purchasing it, so it is considered a self-pay drug. The cost of out-of-pocket medicines is usually higher, which may have an impact on patients' financial burden. The common drug specification is50mg*30 pills, and the market price may exceed 3,000 yuan. Overseas, the European version of the same medicine may cost more than 10,000 yuan per box, and the specific price will also be affected by exchange rate fluctuations. In addition, imitation ritexitinib is already sold in overseas markets. Its ingredients are similar to the original drug sold at home and abroad. The price of the version produced in Laos is about more than 1,000 yuan per box.