Rituxan is a very expensive drug. My wife often had a cycle of six to eight treatments (one every third week if her blood count was okay). Everything was covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.
What is the cost in Ontario for 8 full dose treatments of rituxan for NHL
Here’s a cost estimate for 8 full-dose treatments of Rituxan (rituximab) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in Ontario — based on publicly available drug pricing data (not including infusion/clinic fees, physician fees, or insurance coverage):
?? Approximate Drug Cost (Ontario Formulary) Ontario’s public drug formulary shows rituximab biosimilar prices (these are commonly used for NHL treatment) as: Formulary
- Truxima / Riximyo / Ruxience (biosimilars):
• 100 mg vial – ~$297 CAD
• 500 mg vial – ~$1,485 CAD
(These are unit prices from the Ontario formulary.) Formulary
Typical NHL dosing is weight-based (e.g., 375 mg/m² per infusion). For many adult patients this results in multiple vials per infusion (often several thousand dollars worth of drug per dose).
As a rough estimate using 500 mg vial pricing:
- One typical full dose infusion may require 3–4 vials (1,500–2,000 mg total)
- At $1,485 per 500 mg vial, that’s about $4,455–$5,940 per infusion just for the drug itself. Formulary
?? Estimated Total for 8 Infusions Using the above ballpark:
- Low end: 8 × ~$4,455 ˜ $35,600 CAD
- High end: 8 × ~$5,940 ˜ $47,500 CAD
?? These totals are approximate drug acquisition costs only and do not include:
- Infusion administration fees (hospital/clinic, nursing time, IV supplies)
- Physician/oncologist fees
- Dispensing fees or pharmacy mark-ups
- Health insurance copays or deductibles
?? Real-World Cost to Patients In Ontario, most cancer drugs (including rituximab for NHL) are typically covered through public programs when given in hospital or cancer centre settings — meaning:
- For most patients with OHIP and cancer centre treatment, the drug itself is covered, with little to no direct out-of-pocket cost.
- Additional support (e.g., Trillium Drug Program or Exceptional Access) may be available for outpatient coverage if needed. ontariorenalnetwork.ca
However, if someone has no coverage/private pay, the full cost of drug acquisition could run in the tens of thousands of dollars for a typical course. Private insurance plans may also cover most or all of this cost.
?? Key Points - Ontario formulary price for rituximab biosimilars: ~$297/100 mg or ~$1,485/500 mg vial. Formulary
- A typical full dose per infusion often costs several thousand dollars in drug cost alone.
- 8 infusions of rituximab could approximately cost $35,000–$47,000 CAD in drug acquisition cost if paid out of pocket.
- Most patients receiving treatment for NHL in Ontario through cancer centres/public funding do not pay these costs directly.
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