Good day fellow warriors!
Has anyone tried the generic brand for Ibrance? I don’t know if it’s just me or for everyone, Pfizer emailed me that they are discontinuing the co-pay support for Ibrance, because generic palbociclib is now available here in Canada. My oncologist said that it’s ok Just want to hear feedbacks for those who are taking it.
Thank you!
Thelma
I have been on palbociclib from the beginning of this journey in 2021. I live in uk. All is fine.
Hi I’m in the UK and on Ribo, Letrazole and Zolodex injection once a month. Is this your programme too? I’m on my 5th month for lung mets, so it’s encouraging to hear you have been on it for 4 years. Have you had symptoms or any progression? Are you doing any other treatments.
I hope you don’t mind the questions 🙏 thank you.
Similar to you , I'm on palbociclib and fulvestrant now and zolodex three monthly.
Hi! I’m in the US and on your regime but only have Zolodex once every 3 months. I was diagnosed with MBC in spine July 2019 and have few side effects other than fatigue and low white blood cells. I’m so grateful. Unaware of a generic Ibrance available and would love it if it were here as well as Canada. I’m very nervous about the threat to Medicare, who pays a large part of the huge price for this drug per month. There’s no way we could afford it long term.
All best to you and Taurus28 on this regime. And of course all others dealing with this challenge. 🥰
I've only had the original Ibrance brand, not sure if other brands have been licensed in the UK yet. I know Ibrance is very expensive so I can imagine the NHS being keen to have other brands available. I've been on it for 3.5 years and would be nervous about changing brands
Yeah, I’ve been taking the Ibrance from Pfizer and my work insurance is paying 90% and the rest is shouldered by Pfizer’s support program. But now they’re ending their co-pay program.
Thank you for your reply !😊
Hi, I have been taking the generic drug for a couple of cycles now, no difference that I can see. It is less than half the price. My provincial drug plan pays for it and they demanded generic. Oh, I am in Canada too! And I have been on palbociclib for 5 years
Thanks for letting me know. First time I heard about the generic one, that’s why I’m a little worried changing brands. Thank you!😊
I was wondering when that would come out. My insurance is paying $15,000 a month for that drug. Someone else on here was taking the generic. It should be fine. It had to be approved.
Hi Batiksforme,
I am open to taking the generic too if my insurance stops funding my Ibrance. My oncologist said it’s okay.
Good luck to you and I pray that you will have a long run with Ibrance!🙏🥰
Thank you. I think I should ask my Dr about the future of a generic switch.
Hello
I haven't heard about the generic version here in Cyprus. I've been on the Capsule Ibrance brand for around 3.5 years. I've heard that some people in US have a tablet instead of the red/brown capsule....and that some said they felt more symptoms such as nausea with that type...but I think that was still Pfizer under the Ibrance name/packing just a different manufacturing process.
Hi Discocat,
I’m glad to hear that you’ve been on Ibrance for that long. Praying for you to have a long run with it!🙏❤️
I'm starting my 10th year on Ibrance. No serious side effects.
Google says Ibrance first approved by FDA on Feb 3, 2015. Pfizer got Patent Term Extension until Mar 5, 2027. Good luck!!
I’m glad you asked this question as I’ve also been on ibrance and a bit nervous about switching to the generic brand, even though my oncologist is confident the generic will be just as effective.
I’m on my last package of ibrance so it’ll be about a month before I start generic brand. I’ll keep an eye on this post for additional feedback.
All the best to you with the switch.
Kim
I have never heard of generic Ibrance. I have been on Ibrance and Letrozole since November of 2020, hoping to stay on it a long time. I am in the US however and also have the co-pay program through Pfizer. I am wondering if they will change to a generic brand here, too. Please keep us posted if you find out more. In the meantime, sending you hugs and prayers.
I have been on Ibrance and Letrozole too since November 2022 and had been stable since then. Just last week, I got an email from Pfizer that they are ending their co-pay program because generic palbociclib is now available in Canada. I was worried changing brands but my oncologist said it should be okay.
Hugs and prayers to you too!🙏❤️
Thank you, appreciate your response!😊
I’m in Canada too. May I know which province are you in? I’m in Ontario. As of now, it’s my work insurance that’s paying 90% of my Ibrance. I’m planning to retire next year and wondering if govt will fund for it.
I am also from Ontario and my work benefits won’t cover the letro/ibrance combo but the Ontario Trillium Benefits plan does.
I forget how I got connected but it might have been the drug navigator at the cancer centre.
Now that palbo is going generic, I’m checking with my benefits plan to see if they’ll cover it.
Kim
I should have clarified, that Ontario Trillium Benefits has an annual premium and mine is about $1500. Pfizer was covering that for me so I’m hoping that my benefits plan will cover the generic brand so I won’t have any out of pocket
I live in Perth, Ontario. My BC came back in 2019, 17 years after my original diagnosis and treatment, I was 69 when rediagnosed, retired and no longer had a work drug plan. Ibrance was paid fully under the Ontario Drug programme as I was over 65. Thanks Heavens for that because at the time it was $5800 per month. You can reference the Ontario Drug Benefit programme and from what I know if you are 65 or older you would qualify with no drug plan in place. Research this so your retiring age is 65 plus so you can qualify for the drug Benefit.
Well I hope it works as well for you as the Ibrance has. Hugs
ladies, she is asking if anyone has been prescribed the generic of Ibrance…. I have not as of now but will be open to taking it. I have been on Ibrance and Fulvestrant for over 4 years, NED for 3 so it has been an amazing first line treatment combo for me. Little side effects.
Hi Gingerann1,
I am also open to taking the generic if my insurance stops funding it. But if I can get Ibrance I would be thankful since the combo Ibrance/Letrozole was very good for me, less side effects and been NED since November2022.
I hope and pray that it continues working for you too!🙏😊
Thank you!
Thelma
Hello. I haven’t taken the generic, but my next refill will have to do so. I am in Ontario, Canada, also, and since this Taro brand palbociclib became available, it is the only option my insurance will cover. I think we were all advised that we would have to take the generic in December sometime, and I freaked. But, in short order I got an email from the Pfizer Patient Support program telling me I could remain on it because they were going to subsidize the whole portion not covered by ins. Anyway, they just sent another email this month saying this support is ending. My oncology pharmacist also called to advise me. I might just get in for one more refill, but that will be it. I am not a big pharma supporter, but I did have mixed feelings when I heard that once patent expired, the field was opened for the generics to move in. Seems odd for me to feel like I am being unfaithful, or something like that, to Pfizer, but didn’t they spend major money on all the studies they’ve done on Ibrance? I am nervous as well, that the generic won’t be as effective, but I think that is probably unfounded.
Anyway, keep moving forward, fearlessly.
Hi Minnie767,
I only heard about the generic palbociclib two weeks ago when Pfizer emailed me about the ending of their co- pay support program. Like you I was also worried but my oncologist assured me that it will be okay.
Let’s just hope and pray that it would be as effective as Ibrance!🙏😊
Hugs and prayers for you!🙏
Hi Thelma. Palbociclib(Ibrance) became available as a generic in Canada in November 2024. It is marketed by Pharmascience Canada better known as pms on drug bottles. The other manufacturer is Taro Pharmaceuticals which again is a Canada company. The active ingredient of generics is the same. It's just colors and flavorings that may be different but they do not affect the performance, safety, or effectiveness of the generic medicine. The companies that is supplying the generic is Canadian so I would trust them. I myself are wary of drugs that are manufactured overseas but that is not the case here. Pharmascience manufactures many common drugs. Trust your oncologist. I'm from Canada too and took Ibrance for 5 years. It was a wonderful drug. As you know Canada has a government funded healthcare cancer program so whenever generics become available for these very expensive drugs the pharmacies will be using them. It just makes sense. Good luck.
I appreciate your detailed and insightful response. Thank you for providing such valuable information!
Good luck and prayers for you too!🙏❤️
This is my second month of using the generic brand and I notice no difference whatsoever except that the pills are harder to get out of the package. I use a sharp edged nail file to dig them out .
The FDA has approved itovebi (inavolisib) plus Ibrance (palbociclib) and Faslodex (fulvestrant) ...is anyone taking this trio? 
Progression in my bones. 
Does anyone on Ibrance get post nasal drip and chest congestion 
Pain I. Breast
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