For patients who require long-term use of Upadacitinib to control conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and atopic dermatitis, the generic version launched by Lao Big Bear Pharmaceutical opens a new door to reduce the financial burden of treatment.
How much does Lao Big Bear version of Upadacitinib cost?
The Lao Big Bear version of Upadacitinib is available in a specification of 15mg*30 tablets per box, priced at approximately $37. The actual price may be affected by various factors, so the selling price shall prevail.
Which patients are unsuitable or should be cautious when using Upadacitinib?
Although Upadacitinib is highly effective, it is not suitable for all patients to start with. A rigorous evaluation must be conducted before beginning treatment with Upadacitinib. The following patients are not recommended to start Upadacitinib: those with absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) below 500/mm³, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) below 1000/mm³, or hemoglobin level below 8g/dL; patients who already have signs of infection (e.g., fever, muscle aches, blood in sputum, cough, diarrhea, stomach pain, frequent urination, shortness of breath); patients with tuberculosis or close contact with someone with tuberculosis; patients with any type of cancer, hepatitis B or C, shingles (herpes zoster), or blood clots in the legs/lungs, diverticulitis (inflammation of part of the large intestine), or stomach/intestinal ulcers; patients with other conditions such as liver problems, low blood cell counts, diabetes, chronic lung disease, HIV, or weakened immune system. Additionally, patients who have recently received or plan to receive a vaccine should note that live vaccines should not be administered while taking Upadacitinib. For women of childbearing age, those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should be aware that, according to animal studies, Upadacitinib may harm an unborn baby. Before starting treatment, a doctor will check for pregnancy, and effective contraception must be used during treatment and for at least 4 weeks after the last dose. Women who are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed should also know that Upadacitinib may pass into breast milk; do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 6 days after the last dose. If any of the above conditions apply, patients must fully communicate with their doctor before taking the medication, and the doctor will determine whether it is appropriate to use.
How effective is Upadacitinib?
The efficacy of Upadacitinib is strongly supported by a number of global Phase III clinical studies named "SELECT". In the SELECT-EARLY study conducted in early RA patients who had never received methotrexate (MTX), at week 12, 52% of patients in the Upadacitinib 15mg group achieved ACR50 response (i.e., 50% improvement in symptoms), compared with only 28% in the MTX group. For patients with inadequate response to MTX (MTX-IR), the SELECT-MONOTHERAPY study showed that at week 14, 68% of patients in the Upadacitinib 15mg monotherapy group achieved ACR20 response, compared with only 41% of patients continuing MTX. In the same patient population, the SELECT-COMPARE study evaluated the efficacy of Upadacitinib combined with MTX: at week 12, 71% of patients in the Upadacitinib 15mg + MTX group achieved ACR20 response, compared with only 36% in the placebo + MTX group. For patients with inadequate response or intolerance to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARD-IR), the SELECT-NEXT study showed that at week 12, 64% of patients in the Upadacitinib 15mg + csDMARD group achieved ACR20 response, compared with 36% in the placebo + csDMARD group. Most encouragingly, even for difficult-to-treat patients with inadequate response or intolerance to biologic agents (e.g., TNF inhibitors) (biologic-IR), the SELECT-BEYOND study showed that at week 12, 65% of patients in the Upadacitinib 15mg + csDMARD group still achieved ACR20 response, compared with only 28% in the placebo + csDMARD group. These data comprehensively demonstrate the high efficacy of Upadacitinib across different RA patient populations.
