How much does Ninlaro cost compared to other chemo drugs?

Ninlaro (ixazomib) is an oral targeted therapy anticancer drug that is used in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) and dexamethasone, to help treat multiple myeloma (MM). These can be used in patients who have already tried at least one other different treatment first.

Usually a combination of drugs are used to treat multiple myeloma. The choice and number of drugs used can depend on staging of MM, whether the MM is standard risk or high risk. Treatment options also change according to whether it is initial treatment, maintenance or relapse treatment.

There are different groups of anticancer medicines that work in different ways. The drug combinations usually include one medicine from each of the groups, often up to three medicines can be used but sometimes it can be more.

Proteasome inhibitors

Nilaro belongs to this group of anticancer medicines.

The proteasome inhibitors kill cancer cells by blocking enzymes called proteasomes, these are like the recycling centre of the cell and when this stops working, unwanted or damaged proteins build up which causes the cancer cells to die.

Immunomodulating agents

The immunomodulating drugs act on a protein called cereblon, so are sometimes called cereblon modulators.

Monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies that specifically target the cancer cell which makes the patient’s immune system attack the cancer cell.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy helps to stop the growth of rapidly increasing malignant cells.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors

The histone deacetylase inhibitor stops or reduces cancer cell growth by interfering with gene expression which needs histones for the coiling and uncoiling of the DNA.

Price per course of anti-cancer medication treatment

The total cost of medications for an anti-cancer treatment will also depend on

• combination of medicines used
• doses per treatment course, whether daily, weekly or two weekly
• number of courses of treatment required.