According to a recent article from Medscape, Takeda Pharmaceuticals is offering a rebate for brigatinib (Alunbrig) which is used for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers. Histologically, NSCLC is divided into adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and large cell carcinoma. Patients with NSCLC require a complete staging workup to evaluate the extent of disease because stage plays a major role in determining the choice of treatment.
Symptoms:
NSCLC is often insidious, producing no symptoms until the disease is well advanced. Early recognition of symptoms may be beneficial to patient outcomes.
At initial diagnosis, 20% of patients have localized disease, 25% of patients have regional metastasis, and 55% of patients have distant spread of disease. Symptoms depend on the location of the cancer.
The most common signs and symptoms of lung cancer include the following:
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood
- Wheezing
- Hoarseness
- Recurring infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
- Weight loss and loss of appetite
- Fatigue
Metastatic signs and symptoms may include the following:
- Bone pain
- Spinal cord impingement
- Neurologic problems such as headache, weakness or numbness of limbs, dizziness, and seizures
Brigatinib
Brigatinib is used as a treatment for adults with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Takeda Pharmaceuticals partnered with Point32Health in order to make brigatinib more widely accessible to patients who may need it.
However, Takeda has agreed that if a patient taking brigatinib cannot continue on the medication for 3 or more months due to effectiveness or their tolerability, they will provide a refund to Point32Health. The list price of brigatinib is $17,000 for just a single month of treatment.
Not all cancer patients respond to treatment, so reimbursement in these situations is an area that is “prime for innovative financing approaches.”
