Abiraterone Cost Information Not Available in Clinical Evidence
I cannot provide specific cost information for abiraterone because the clinical guidelines and research evidence provided do not contain pricing data. The evidence focuses exclusively on dosing, efficacy, and safety rather than pharmaceutical costs.
Standard Dosing Requirements for Cost Calculation
To estimate a 3-month supply cost, you would need:
- Standard dose: 1,000 mg once daily 1
- Duration: 90 days (3 months)
- Total medication needed: 90,000 mg of abiraterone acetate
- Concurrent steroid required: prednisone 5 mg twice daily or methylprednisolone 4 mg twice daily 1
Cost-Saving Alternative Dosing Option
A validated lower-cost alternative exists: 250 mg daily with a low-fat breakfast instead of 1,000 mg fasting 1. This approach:
- Reduces medication costs by approximately 75% 1
- Demonstrated noninferiority in a randomized phase II trial with equal PSA response rates (58% vs 50%) and identical progression-free survival (9 months in both arms) 1
- Should be considered specifically for patients who cannot afford standard dosing 1
- Requires monitoring for excess toxicity, with reversion to standard dosing if problems occur 1
Fine-Particle Formulation Alternative
A 500 mg fine-particle formulation is bioequivalent to 1,000 mg standard formulation 1:
- Approved by FDA in May 2018 1
- Given with methylprednisolone 4 mg twice daily instead of prednisone 1
- May reduce musculoskeletal adverse events (12.5% vs 37.9%) 1
Where to Obtain Actual Pricing
For current pricing information, you must contact:
- Retail or specialty pharmacies directly
- Patient assistance programs from the manufacturer
- Insurance formularies for coverage details
- GoodRx or similar prescription pricing services for comparative costs
The cost varies significantly by country, insurance coverage, generic availability, and pharmacy 2. In Brazil, for example, the public health system does not cover standard-dose abiraterone, making the low-dose option clinically important 2.