Xtandi (Enzalutamide): How Much Does a Xtandi Prescription Cost?

The cost of Xtandi (enzalutamide) may be one factor that men might use to compare medications or make medical decisions for late-stage prostate cancer. Xtandi is a drug used to treat hormone-resistant prostate cancer that has metastasized or spread to other areas of the body.

Monthly Costs ($7,450) and Annual Costs ($60,000)

Xtandi costs $7,450 per month. The average treatment course is eight months, so the cost of Xtandi is usually about $60,000 for a full course of treatment. Additional costs for doctor visits, co-pays, deductibles, parking fees, and travel expenses are not included in this amount.

Xtandi is an oral medication taken at home. It is an androgen receptor inhibitor that works against prostate cancer by causing cell death and decreasing tumor size. Studies show that Xtandi works by interfering with the testosterone and dihydrotestosterone receptors on prostate cancer cells. The drug also stops the hormone receptors from exchanging messages with prostate cancer cells, and this stops cancer growth.

Xtandi (Enzalutamide) Cost Assistance 

Medicare and most insurance companies have patient cost-sharing obligations that are similar to other oral anti-cancer treatment. Coverage for Medicare Part D and Medicaid patients varies widely. Many insurance plans consider Xtandi to be a specialty drug, so the cost of Xtandi may be higher than co-pays for other drugs. Your doctor can help you determine what your cost of Xtandi would be. The manufacturer has programs for both insured and uninsured patients. Xtandi Access Services helps providers and patients understand costs and addresses financial barriers to using Xtandi.

Patients with private insurance can take advantage of the Patient Savings Program. The Xtandi Patient Savings Program is for patients who have private health insurance but who may have trouble paying their out-of-pocket costs. Patients in this program may pay about $20 out-of-pocket each time they fill a prescription for Xtandi. The program covers the remaining cost-sharing obligation up to $12,000 in prescription costs per calendar year. Patients who are insured by government-sponsored insurance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE, are not eligible to use this program. Call Access Services at 1-855-8XTANDI to find out more about reimbursement services or the Patient Savings Program.

Reduced Costs of Xtandi (Enzalutamide) for Uninsured Patients 

Uninsured patients may be eligible for the Astellas Access Program if they meet certain criteria:

• They have been prescribed XTANDI for an FDA-approved indication.
• They are uninsured, awaiting public assistance (such as Medicaid), or have a health insurance plan that has denied coverage for XTANDI.
• They have an annual household adjusted gross income of less than $100,000 per year.
• They have a verifiable shipping address within the United States.

Patients and doctors who feel that Xtandi is the right treatment for prostate cancer should be able to find an affordable way to get the medication through a combination of Medicare, private insurance, or a patient assistance program offered through the manufacturer. These factors should help with the cost of Xtandi.

Xtandi & Enzalutamide: Recommended Links

Learn more about the brand name Xtandi medication: Prostate Cancer Treatment XTANDI® (enzalutamide) [Manufacturer’s Website]

Learn more about the effective drug in Xtandi, Enzalutamide: MedlinePlus; Wikipedia; FDA.gov

Read additional articles on Prostate.net about Xtandi (Enzalutamide):

• How Does Xtandi Treat Advanced Prostate Cancer?
• Zytiga Compared to Xtandi for Prostate Cancer Treatment
• Provenge Compared to Xtandi for Treating Prostate Cancer
• Xofigo Compared to Xtandi For Prostate Cancer Treatment
• Does Provenge Work Better When Combined With Xtandi?
• What Are My Late Stage Prostate Cancer Drug Options
• Other Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

Article Sources & References

• Xtandi.com. (2019). Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment XTANDI® (enzalutamide) Safety Info. [online] Available at: https://www.xtandi.com/ [Accessed 14 Jun. 2019].

   

• Wikipedia.org. (2019). Enzalutamide. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzalutamide [Accessed 14 Jun. 2019].

   

• Medlineplus.gov. (2019). Enzalutamide: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a612033.html [Accessed 14 Jun. 2019].

   

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2019). FDA approves enzalutamide for castration-resistant prostate cancer. [online] Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-enzalutamide-castration-resistant-prostate-cancer [Accessed 14 Jun. 2019].

About the Author: Deborah Mitchell

Deborah Mitchell is a senior health writer for Prostate.net who has authored, co-authored, and ghostwritten more than 50 health-related books for major publishers including “The Complete Guide to Nutritional Healing”, “The Family Guide to Vitamins, Herbs and Supplements”, “52 Foods and Supplements for a Healthy Heart”, “25 Medical Tests Your Doctor Should Tell You About” and “The Wonder of Probiotics: A 30-Day Plan to Boost Energy, Enhance Weight Loss, Heal GI Problems, Prevent Disease, and Slow Aging”. She is a frequent contributor to health and medical websites on nutrition, health, and wellness.

For more information or to connect with Deborah Mitchell, you can connect with her on Twitter or view published works through the Macmillan website.