Duration of Ibrutinib’s cycle

[ENAMP]

Please, ¿what means “ a cycle “in Ibrutinib treatment? ¿ means 24 hours? It’s a question of my insurance. Thanks.

[Hidden]

i always though a month

[ENAMP in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi ENAMP,

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Someone else may have a better answer, but until they reply I will share my guess on this OPEN UNLOCKED POST.

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The terminology "cycle" is usually used in clinical trials and most of the time refers to a 28 day period. With ibrutinib obtained from the USA specialty pharmacies ( Avella, Biologics, Diplomat, and Onco360) I believe they use the term for a similar number of days- to match the number of pills or capsules sent to the patient.

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The manufacturer of Ibrutinib (Pharmacyclics div of Abbvie) supplies Ibrutinib in two different forms and formats.

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For the original capsules of 140 mg, the typical CLL patient takes 3 capsules per day (420 mg /day) and a bottle of 90 capsules lasts 30 days.

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But an alternate pill form is made to have the 420 mg in a single tablet and packaged in a blister pack for 28 days.

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So the question from your insurance may be around whether you will receive 90 capsules every 30 days or 28 tablets every 28 days, and thus have a slightly different "cycle".

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As I said, this is just a guess, subject to correction by someone with specific knowledge.

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Len

[ENAMP in reply to lankisterguy]

Thanks for your answer

[ENAMP in reply to ENAMP]

In my contract said :”cytotoxic drugs applied in chemotherapy cycles”. Ibrutinib is continue and this is the doubt.

[lankisterguy Volunteer in reply to ENAMP]

The terminology is obtuse and likely obsolete (perhaps translated from another language) probably written when Chemotherapy was the only option.

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Typically FCR or BR were the primary Chemo (Cytoxic drugs) combinations used in the last 10 years were administered on a 28 day cycle for 6 cycles. Then all treatment was stopped and the patient waited for the cancer to return.

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I think I understand your concern that a strict interpretation of the terms may exclude Ibrutinib either because it is not "Cytoxic" not applied in "chemotherapy cycles" and is given every day (continuously).

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So the best option may be to contact the insurance company and ask if they cover Ibrutinib/Imbruvica, despite the out dated terminology.

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Len

[ENAMP in reply to lankisterguy]

Thanks. I am from Chile

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

Len's explanation is a good one. I have seen patients comment about needing 13 refills in a year because of the way their "cycle" is defined (again, US). It sometimes throws things off insurance wise. I'm guessing that in their case 28 days is used. Hopefully someone with more exact knowledge can comment.

[Coolerjoe]

I am currently on treatment and a cycle is 28 days.

[vog292]

28 days , one 420 MG daily for Imbruvica. Call the pharmacist of your supplier.

[ENAMP in reply to vog292]

Thanks

[Miller1960]

Yup! same for me, every 28 days I pick up my month's worth of Ibrutinib at the hospital pharmacy.

[Dummer70]

I would like to know, how do seniors on Social Security afford the Imbruvica drug, our out of pocket expense would be 2800 per month. That would be our social security check. Thank you, MINNEAPOLIS

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer in reply to Dummer70]

Call lls.org and ask to speak to a financial advisor. They are on top of the options for co pay assistance.

[kathymac52 in reply to Dummer70]

do you have Medicare Part D? Does your clinic have a social worker on staff to help you manage the costs? This has helped my husband who has been on Ibruvica for a year now.

[Dummer70]

We do not, Social Services does not work for us , we assets, and own our home! Insurance would cover of the 12,000 per month ,about 9500, we would have to cover the rest. Which is about 30,000 per year, unaffordable.

[ENAMP]

Has anyone taken generic Imbruvica made in India such as Ibruxen manufactured by Everest pharma. I started with Janssen’s Imbruvica and my social security do not cover it. Thanks a lot for your answers.