How long does it take for Palbociclib to take effect?

Palbociclib usually starts working after the first dose of the drug. But the patient won't feel whether the drug is working. Doctors will do various tests or scans to check the effectiveness of the treatment, imaging tests (such as CT scans or MRIs) and blood tests (such as monitoring of tumor markers). Palbociclib is designed to slow the growth of cancer and prevent it from getting worse.

Palbociclib is a cell cycle-specific drug that mainly inhibits the DNA synthesis of tumor cells to prevent their proliferation. Because of its action on the cell cycle, it may take a relatively long time to affect the growth and spread of tumor cells. Everyone’s situation is different, and the efficacy and response time of palbociclib will vary depending on factors such as individual differences, tumor type, and expected treatment effect. In clinical trials for the treatment of breast cancer, progression-free survival (PFS) increased from 4.5 months to 9.5 months, and it usually takes several months to see significant effects.

The original drug of palbociclib has been launched in China and has entered the scope of Class B medical insurance, but reimbursement is limited to patients who meet the indications. The price of each box may be more than more than 4,000 yuan. The price of palbociclib's original drug, 125mg*21 capsules, per box sold overseas may be more than RMB 10,000 (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates). There are also generic palbociclib drugs produced in other countries. The price of 125mg*21 tablets produced by a Bangladeshi pharmaceutical factory may be around a few hundred yuan per box (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The price is cheaper. The pharmaceutical ingredients of generic drugs are basically the same as those of domestic and foreign original drugs.