How much does a box of Natalizumab cost?

Natalizumab is a biological drug called a monoclonal antibody. It is used to treat a central nervous system disease called multiple sclerosis and an inflammatory bowel disease called Crohn's disease. Natalizumab is an immunosuppressant that works by attaching to the surface of leukocytes, the white blood cells that circulate in the blood and help you when you are injured or sick. White blood cells are part of the immune system, and people with conditions like multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease tend to have higher levels of them.

Natalizumab is an integrin receptor antagonist that specifically binds to integrins, a protein found on the surface of white blood cells. This prevents white blood cells from migrating from the bloodstream into areas of inflamed tissue. It's not clear how the drug helps people with multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease, but it's thought that by blocking the migration of white blood cells, natalizumab helps prevent nerve damage and inflammation. Natalizumab was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004, and its biosimilar was also approved in 2023. Biosimilars are highly similar versions of drugs designed to have the same effects in people, but biosimilars are not identical to the original version.

If the patient develops any unusual symptoms, such as hives, rash, itching, difficulty swallowing or breathing, wheezing, fever, dizziness, chest pain, flushing, nausea, or chills, please inform the doctor or nurse, especially if these symptoms occur within 2 hours of starting the infusion.

Natalizumab's original patent drug is not marketed in the country and cannot be included in medical insurance. Currently, the generic drug natalizumab on the market overseas may cost more than 8,000 US dollars per box (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates), which is very expensive. For more drug information and specific prices, please consult Yaode Medical Consultant.