The price of bimetinib/bemetinib after it enters the medical insurance

Binimetinib is a MEK inhibitor primarily used to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600E or V600K mutations. As a targeted therapy drug, it inhibits the growth and spread of tumor cells by blocking the activity of MEK1/2 in the MAPK signaling pathway. In recent years, global clinical studies have shown that bimetinib can significantly delay disease progression and prolong progression-free survival when used in combination with the BRAF inhibitor Encorafenib. This result has also prompted it to obtain regulatory approval in many countries. As its efficacy has been widely recognized, domestic patients have continued to pay more attention to the drug, and the prospect of inclusion in medical insurance has also become a hot topic.

At present, the original drug bimetinib has not been officially included in China's medical insurance directory, but it has been used as a standard treatment drug overseas for many years. In the European and American markets, the cost of single drugs and combinations with encofenib is relatively high, with prices usually exceeding RMB 10,000. If the drug enters China's medical insurance system in the future, the price is expected to drop significantly. Referring to the medical insurance negotiation experience of other similar targeted drugs in China, the price may drop to a range of several thousand yuan per box. After being covered by medical insurance, the patient's out-of-pocket payment ratio will be significantly reduced, which is undoubtedly a good policy for people who take medicine for a long time.

Currently in China, the original drug Bimetinib is available through some import channels or purchased through cross-border drug purchase platforms. The price mainly depends on specifications and exchange rate changes. According to the price conversion in overseas markets, bimetinib45 mg × 30 tablets are approximately more than 10,000 yuan. Medical insurance negotiations usually give priority to innovative drugs with outstanding clinical value and few substitutes. As an important treatment option for BRAF mutation-related cancers, bimetinib is more likely to be included in medical insurance.

Reference materials:https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB11967