An Overview of enzalutamide price in usa, sold under the brand name Xtandi, is one of the most contentious treatments for prostate cancer in the United States. It costs a lot more than it does in other countries. In the present article, the essayist considers different prices of enzalutamide in the United States for the possible savings the patient can make with the continued efforts towards the making of this medication more affordable.
What Is Enzalutamide?
It is a drug used to treat a disease such as metastatic castration-resistant cancer of the prostate. It prevents the androgen receptor in the prostate from acting as a transmitter of signals. Despite its effectiveness, patients and medical professionals now face financial challenges.
Price Overview
In the United States alone, the cost of enzalutamide may be quite varied. A single 40 mg capsule may cost $66 on the Federal Supply Schedule and $100 at more than retail price.
As of January 2022, the AWP was estimated at about $130 per capsule, which works out to an annual cost of treatment of roughly $189,900 for a typical course of treatment. In stark contrast, patients in countries like Japan and Canada pay significantly less for each capsule, at approximately $21.64 and $22.30, respectively.
Patient financial burden Its highly excessive price in the US market would therefore imply exorbitant out-of-pocket costs on its consumption. A study indicates that the median annual out-of-pocket costs which enzalutamide users incur could go as high as $11,626, while a large proportion of its costs falls in the upper range of $9,854 to $13,061.
This will considerably interfere with the quality of life and adherence to treatment in a significant number of patients.
There is a Possibility of Savings Despite the hefty prices, there exist ways through which patients can save their money. For instance, the patient could save up to $2,512 annually on enzalutamide by comparing the costs of the various Medicare Part D drug plans. The top tools, such as Medicare Part D Plan Finder, allow one to find the most affordable options available to the patients.
Make a case for price reductions.
Due to the drug’s extremely high cost, advocacy groups and legislators have been working on making it more affordable.
In 2021,
a group of American lawmakers urged the Biden administration to enforce patent laws and lower the price of the drug. They added that in order for generic enzalutamide to be sold, the federal government must use its “march-in” rights granted by the Bayh-Dole Act. In response, the NIH denied this request in March 2023 due to the drug’s already high availability and the ineffectiveness of march-in authority in lowering prices.
Patient Assistance Programs
Support for XTANDI patients at a reduced out-of-pocket cost, the XTANDI Patient Savings Program helps commercially insured, eligible patients to pay as little as $0 for every prescription. Patients may have access to additional financial assistance programs and resources that can assist with treatment costs.
Conclusion
Patients with prostate cancer face a significant obstacle due to the high cost of enzalutamide, particularly in the United States. Even though specific advocacy efforts and patient assistance programs partially offset many of these costs, more work remains to ensure that all patients have easy access to this life-saving treatment. For example, some of the ways these may help a person better negotiate the financial burden in treating prostate