How much does Afinitor cost per month?

• Afinitor costs $18,803 to $19,667 for a supply of 28 tablets (one month).
• The cost works out to be $702 per tablet for the 5mg, 7.5mg, and 10mg strength tablets. The 2.5mg strength is slightly cheaper at $671 per tablet.
• However, most people will not have to pay this much because insurance plans should cover most of the cost of this medicine, although it is not covered by Medicare.
• Copay assistance and support is available through the Afinitor Novartis Universal Co-Pay Card.
• A generic version of Afinitor is available, under the name of everolimus. The cost of 2.5mg everolimus tablets are $485 to $520 each or $13,779 to $14,560 for a 28-day supply.

Related: Drugs.com Pricing, Online Coupons and Manufacturer’s Savings

• Afinitor Price Guide

What is Afinitor?

Afinitor (everolimus) is a targeted medicine that may be used to treat various cancers. It interferes with cancer cell growth and slows the spread of cancer in the body. The dosage of Afinitor may vary depending on the condition being treated but the most common dosage for breast cancer is 10mg orally once a day.

Is Afinitor expensive?

According to the Drugs.com price guide which bases its price on the Drugs.com discount card which is accepted at most U.S. pharmacies, the cost for an Afinitor 10mg oral tablet is around $702 per tablet or $19,667 for a supply of 28 tablets depending on the pharmacy you visit. Prices are for cash paying customers only and are not valid with insurance plans.

The cost of three of the strengths of Afinitor (5mg, 7.5mg, or 10mg) is the same: $702 per tablet. The 2.5mg tablets are slightly cheaper at $671 per tablet.

However, most people will not have to pay this cost as most insurance plans should cover this drug. However, it is not covered by Medicare. Before you and your doctor decide on treatment with Afinitor, check that your insurance company covers it.

Copay assistance is also available under the Novartis Oncology Universal Co-pay Program. Eligible individuals with private insurance may pay $0: Phone 1-877-577-7756. Patients may be responsible for up to the first $25 and Novartis pays up to $15,000 per calendar year.

Afinitor is usually taken every day for as long as it is working or until unacceptable side effects occur. It is meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. In clinical trials, the average duration of treatment was approximately 24.0 weeks (range one week to almost 200 weeks).

Related questions

• How long can you take Afinitor for?
• How long can you take everolimus?
• What is everolimus used for and how does it work?

How does Afinitor work?

Afinitor is called an mTOR inhibitor. mTOR stands for mammalian target of rapamycin, and it is a type of protein in the body called a kinase that helps both healthy cells and cancerous cells get the energy they need.

Sometimes kinases become overactive and help certain cancers to grow. Afinitor binds a specific protein called FKBP-12 and forms a complex which inhibits the activity of mTOR, reducing cell proliferation, the formation of new blood vessels, and glucose uptake. Afinitor reduces the blood supply to cancer which slows down its growth.

Trials have shown that the growth of estrogen-dependent and HER2+ breast cancer cells is inhibited by the effects of Afinitor. Combination treatment with other agents such as exemestane (Aromasin) for breast cancer enhances its effects.

What is Afinitor used to treat?

Afinitor may be used in the treatment of several different cancers, such as:

• Hormone receptor-positive, HER2- negative breast cancer
• Neuroendocrine tumors of the stomach, bowel, lung or pancreas
• Kidney cancer
• Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) – associated conditions or seizures.