When will domestically produced Apremilast be approved?

As of now, domestically produced Apremilast (Apremilast) has not been approved for marketing by the China Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Therefore, patients are currently unable to purchase Apremilast domestically and can only obtain it through overseas channels. In foreign markets, Apremilast is divided into two types: original drugs and generic drugs.

Original drugs mainly refer to the European version of original drugs, produced by well-known foreign pharmaceutical companies. Although the quality and efficacy of original drugs are well guaranteed, their prices are relatively high, generally around more than 10,000 yuan. This may be a significant burden for some patients.

On the other hand, generic drugs mainly refer to Indian and Lao versions of generic drugs. The ingredients of these generic drugs are basically the same as those of the original drugs, but due to certain differences in R&D and production costs, the prices are relatively low. Generally speaking, the price of generic drugs is only about two to three hundred yuan, which greatly reduces the financial burden of patients.

As of now, domestically produced Apremilast has not been approved for marketing in China. The main reasons may include considerations in clinical trials, drug approval processes, and production and quality supervision. However, once domestically produced Apremilast is approved for marketing, it will provide a more convenient and affordable treatment option for the majority of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

In general, although domestically produced Apremilast has not yet been launched in China, patients can still obtain original drugs or generic drugs through overseas channels. For some patients with limited financial resources, generic drugs may be a more practical option. However, when selecting and purchasing drugs, patients should carefully choose formal channels and suppliers with good reputations to ensure the quality and safety of the drugs. At the same time, we hope that domestically produced Apremilast will be approved for marketing as soon as possible to provide patients with more convenient and affordable treatment options.