Lower Cost Gleevec Generic Receives FDA Approval

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In December of 2015, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Sun Pharma), a company headquartered in Mumbai, India, received U.S. FDA approval for their generic version of Gleevec, a brand drug that was designed by Novartis to interfere with the growth of certain cancer cells (leukemia being one FDA approved indication). Gleevec currently is approved for ten indications, however, the generic was approved for only seven of those.

The generic version, known as imatinib mesylate and which comes in tablet form, is a kinase inhibitor, which can be used to treat adults who have chronic myeloid leukemia with Philadelphia chromosomes and a few select other cancers. Earlier last month, Sun Pharma officially released the tablet to the United States market.

Upon receiving approval, the FDA granted Sun Pharma a six month exclusivity period to sell this generic. To incentivize utilization they offer a minimum $10.00 member copay card up to $700 out of pocket per 30 day fill for up to six months. Copay cards will be disseminated to over 4500 oncologists nationwide. And last, but certainly not least, qualifying patients may even be able to receive imatinib mesylate for free through the Sun Pharma Patient Assistance Program.

Currently, the brand Gleevec costs approximately $12,000 per month for the 400-milligram daily dosage, which results in a total yearly cost of over $120,000 per patient. Now that a generic version is available, Novartis also offers a minimum $10.00 member copay card up to $9,690 per 30 day fill not to exceed an annual maximum of $30,000.

What This Means For You:

Considering how Gleevec comes at such a high cost, it is important that all providing entities know generic imatinib mesylate tablets are now available, and at a much lower price. In fact, during the exclusivity period, providing entities can save approximately 8%-10%, with a discount estimated to be 30% after the 6 month generic exclusivity period ends.

Knowing just how cost effective this new generic can be, it is critical that companies have a plan design that encourages members and doctors to discuss prescribing generic imatinib mesylate rather than brand Gleevec - this is where our team can come into play. 

Here at PBIRx, we can analyze your current pharmacy benefit plan and then provide our recommendations to be sure that your current plan design tiers are incentivizing the lower cost generic equivalent of Gleevec.

For more information about the services we offer and how they can benefit you, please give us a call at (888) 797-2479 or visit us at www.pbirx.com.