Calquence, also known as acalabrutinib, is a targeted treatment that works specifically to treat blood cancers like CLL and MCL. Although it has been demonstrated that this intravenous infusion is very effective at treating these conditions, the price is prohibitive for any patient. This blog seeks to reveal how much Calquence costs, and which
factors might be responsible for the price.
An Overview of Calquence’s Financial Impact Calquence, like all other cancer treatments, is expensive because of costs associated with production, market sovereignty, and research and development. Standard Dosage: Normally, patients use 100 mg capsules and consume them two times per day, and it is rather possible to contain up to 60 capsules in a pack.
Price Range: Currently, the cost of treating a patient of Calquence globally is from $13,000 to $15,000 per month, although prices depend on the countries’ healthcare systems and insurance.
Calquence Price Trends
According to the internal price observation, it is evident that Calquence’s price has steadily increased since its introduction in 2017 in line with typical oncology medicine practices. Though it is crucial to state that accessibility of more affordable generics in years to come could bring about the change in prices to the level of stabilizing or even a decrease in others.
What is the Country-by-Country Calquence Price?
States of America It’s very ironic that the United States has one of the highest drug prices in the world and Calquence is not exempt.
Cost of Calquence: One month of the treatment with Calquence is available for $14,000-$15,000 in the USA.
Insurance and Co-Pays: Surprisingly, co payment and all other costs are also relatively high, as the last 10%, which varies between $1,000 to $3,000 per month for the insured patients.
Patient Assistance Programs: Some manufacturers offer financial help so that patients who are in need of the specific medicine can afford it.
United Kingdom
All generic and branded medicines are procured by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), which has a policy of bargaining for better and cheaper medicine prices.
Due to NHS regulations, eligible patients can obtain Calquence at a significantly reduced or no cost. Private Healthcare: Calquence for the self-funding, public sector staff will be £8,000 to £10,000 a month approximately $10,000 to $12,500 USD.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
In private sector of the UAE, the cost of drugs is different than that of public sector.
Cost of Calquence: Private hospitals charge between Ksh 1,300,000 and Ksh 1,400,00 per month in Kenya.
Subsidies for Nationals: Buyers as the UAE citizens would get prices lowered through government subsidization.
Insurance Impact: Most insurance solutions provide help minimise these expenses for residents because insurance plans play a major part of the costs.
Factors Influencing the Cost of Calquence
Costs of Research and Development Developing targeted therapies like Calquence requires significant investment, which is reflected in its pricing.
Market Exclusivity
As a patented drug, calquence cost enjoys market exclusivity, preventing cheaper generic versions from entering the market.
Healthcare Systems
Countries with universal healthcare systems, such as the UK, offer drugs at a lower cost due to government negotiations.
In contrast, private healthcare-dominated systems, like the USA, often lead to higher prices.
Manufacturing and Distribution
High manufacturing standards and distribution logistics contribute to the overall cost.
Currency Exchange Rates
Prices can vary based on currency fluctuations, especially in regions importing the drug.
Ways to Lower the price of Calquence
For patients seeking to manage the high cost of Calquence, several options are available:
Assistance Programs for Patients Pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of Calquence, offer financial aid to eligible patients.
Optimisation of Insurance Reviewing and optimizing health insurance plans can help reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
International Purchase Options
In some cases, patients may benefit from exploring options to buy Calquence in countries where it is more affordable, such as the UK, but this requires careful legal and logistical planning.
Biosimilars and Generics
Once generic versions of Calquence become widely available, prices are expected to decrease significantly.
Government Subsidies
Patients in countries with subsidized healthcare systems should explore eligibility for reduced-cost treatments.
Future Outlook: Calquence Price Trends
There is also the expectation that prices for Calquence will steadily drop over time especially given that as patents for treatments expire biosimilars can freely operate in the market. Additionally, it may become more affordable through awareness campaigns that highlight the uniqueness of drug prices in high-cost nations like the United States.
Conclusion
Price is influenced by market exclusivity, specific healthcare systems, and region. While patients in such nations as the USA have to pay a lot of money from their own pockets, patients in areas where health care is subsidized by the government, like the UK, get to pay much less.
It is therefore important for patients to learn how different aspects such as the costs of Calquence vary in different year and researching on assistance that may be offered to those patients who cannot afford the cost of the drug.
