Is Rucaparib on Medicare?

Rucaparib is a cancer drug used to treat high-grade cancers of the ovaries, fallopian tubes (the tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus), and the peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen). It is used as maintenance treatment in patients whose recurrent cancer has cleared (partially or completely) after treatment with platinum-based cancer drugs.

The active substance in rucaparibrucaparib blocks the activity of a family of proteins called poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs), which help repair damaged DNA in cells (both normal and cancerous). In normal cells, there is an alternative mechanism to repair DNA, but this alternative mechanism does not work properly in cancer cells with BRCA gene mutations. Therefore, when the PARP protein is blocked, the damaged DNA in these cancer cells cannot be repaired, and the result is cancer cell death. Rucaparib was studied in a major study of 564 patients with ovarian cancer who had cleared (either partially or completely) from treatment with platinum-based cancer drugs. The patient taking rucapanib survived for 11 months with no recurrence or worsening of the disease.

The original drug Rucapani has not yet been marketed in the country, so it has not entered the medical insurance coverage standards. The European version of rucapani original drug, specifications300mg*60 tablets sold overseas may cost more than 20,000 yuan per box (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rate effects), which is relatively expensive. There are also cheap generic rucapani drugs available overseas, and their pharmaceutical ingredients are basically the same as those of the original rucapani drug. For example, in India, the price of BDR pharmaceutical specifications of 300mg*60 tablets per box may be more than 6,000 yuan (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rate effects).