How much does a course of pemetinib/pemetinib cost?

Pemigatinib/Pemigatinib is a kinase inhibitor (chemotherapy) used to treat adult patients with cholangiocarcinoma that has spread (metastatic) or cannot be removed with surgery (unresectable),who have been previously treated and whose tumors have a certain type of abnormal fibroblast growth factor receptor2 (FGFR2) gene. It is available in tablet form, each containing 4.5 mg or 9 mg or 13.5 mg of pemetinib.

When treating cholangiocarcinoma, patients can take a 13.5 mg tablet orally once a day under the guidance of a doctor for 14 consecutive days; then stop treatment for 7 days, with a 21-day cycle (starting in two weeks/stopping in one week). This is a course of treatment forpemetinib. Patients need to take pemetinib at approximately the same time each day, with or without food. Tablets should be swallowed whole without crushing, chewing, splitting or dissolving. If a patient experiences an unreasonable degree of side effects, the dose of pemetinib should be reduced or treatment should be temporarily interrupted.

The original drug of pemetinib, under the name of pemetinib tablets, has been sold in the domestic market. Currently, the drug specifications available on the market include 4.5 mg 14 tablets and 9 mg 14 tablets. The price of each box is between 20,000 and 50,000 yuan. The price of two boxes for one course of treatment may be less than 100,000 yuan, which is very expensive.

Fortunately, generic versions of pemetinib have appeared on the overseas market, and their ingredients are almost the same as those of the original drug. Taking the 4.5mg 14 tablets of Lucius Pharmaceuticals in Laos as an example, each box only costs more than 800 RMB (the price may vary due to exchange rate). A rough calculation indicates that a patient will need about 3 boxes for a course of treatment. The price of a course of treatment may be less than 3,000 RMB. Compared with the original drug, the price is much more affordable.