Is a course of Margetuximab expensive?

Margetuximab, as the US version of the original drug, has received widespread attention after being launched overseas, and its cost has become one of the biggest concerns for many breast cancer patients. According to public overseas drug catalog information, its common specifications are 250mg/10ml/1 bottle/box, and the overseas price is about RMB 30,000. The price fluctuates with exchange rates and regional differences. Since it is still in the patent protection period and there are no generic drugs on the market, the overall cost is relatively high.

To discuss whether "whether a course of treatment is expensive", three factors must be combined: frequency of administration, length of treatment, and individual patient differences. Margetuximab is administered intravenously and has a long period of use. It usually requires multiple continuous infusions to achieve a stable therapeutic effect. Since each infusion requires a certain dose of the drug, the costs of long-term treatment inevitably accumulate. Considering that the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer is mostly based on staged evaluation, if the disease remains stable, a longer treatment cycle may be required, so the total cost is relatively higher.

In addition, as a new type of engineered monoclonal antibody, its production cost itself is higher than that of traditional antibodies, which is also one of the reasons for the higher price. Originator drugs often cost more during the start-up phase, and there is no significant room for price reduction until the patent expires or biosimilars enter the market. There is currently no generic version of margetuximab in the world, so the price remains in a high range.

From the perspective of accessibility, the drug has not yet been introduced on a large scale in China. Patients usually need to obtain it through overseas channels. Therefore, logistics, service and other expenses are also required, further increasing the overall treatment cost. In the future, as more HER2-targeted drugs are launched, the price system is adjusted, and biosimilar drugs may appear, the cost of margituximab is expected to gradually decrease, but it will still remain at a high level in the short term.

Reference materials:https://www.margenza.com/