Effects and price of Palbociclib

Palbociclib (Palbociclib) is a CDK4/6i that was proven effective in HR-positive/HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in the pivotal PALOMA clinical trial and received marketing approval. Overall, 97% of patients were initiated on 125 mg/day and 3% were initiated on palbociclib 100 mg/day.

Patients who received palbociclib as first-line therapy (n=137) had a median PFS of 22.8 months (95% CI 16.5-NR), and the 12- and 24-month PFS incidence rates were 68.6% (95% CI; 61.3-76.8%) and 48.9% (95% CI; 41.2-58.0%), respectively. Median OS was not reached at 24 months of follow-up; the 12- and 24-month OS rates were 89.7% (95% CI; 84.7-95.0%) and 74.2% (95% CI; 67.1-81.9%), respectively. ORR was 45% (CR was 2%, PR was 43%). Stable disease occurred in 43% of patients, progression occurred in 9% (no response was recorded in 3% of patients), and the median (range) time to best response (0.2-23.8) was 3.4 months.

PalbociclibThe original drug has been launched in China and has been included in medical insurance. Currently, reimbursement is only available to patients who meet the indications. The common specifications100mg*21 pills may cost more than 6,000 yuan per box, while the original drug sold overseas is more expensive. The price of 125mg*21 pills per box may be around 10,000 yuan (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates). Palbociclib generics are also sold overseas. The ingredients are basically the same as those sold domestically and abroad, but the price is cheap. For example, the price of a box of 125mg*21 tablets produced by a Bangladesh pharmaceutical factory may be several hundred yuan (prices may fluctuate due to exchange rates).