The price and therapeutic value of trastuzumab

Fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki is a targeted therapy drug. With its unique antibody drug conjugate (ADC) structure, it occupies an important position in the treatment of HER2-positive cancers. By precisely binding to the HER-2 receptor on tumor cells and releasing a cytotoxic payload, trastuzumab can significantly weaken the replication ability of cancer cells, induce DNA damage, and ultimately promote cell apoptosis.

In clinical studies, trastuzumab has shown encouraging efficacy in a variety of HER2-positive cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), gastric cancer (MGC) and breast cancer (MBC). Its significant improvement in survival and response rates prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the drug's approval process.

For many patients, the high price of trastuzumab has become a major challenge on the road to treatment. Currently, the drug is marketed in China under the trade name Enhertu/Enhertu, with a price of more than RMB 10,000 per box of 100 mg. And, because the drug is heavily regulated, its purchase options are limited. In addition to the domestic version, Trastuzumab also has a Hong Kong version and a Hong Kong original version to choose from. Although the ingredients of these two versions of the drug are basically the same as the original drug, there are certain differences in price. The Hong Kong version costs about RMB 15,000 per box of 100mg, and the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates. There are currently no generic versions of trastuzumab on the market.

When choosing whether to use trastuzumab, patients and physicians need to weigh the therapeutic value of the drug against its high price. For some patients with severe disease who have failed other treatments, trastuzumab may be their last hope. However, for patients with limited financial resources, they may need to seek other more affordable treatment options.