Eribulin
A sea-sponge-derived chemotherapy that extended survival in heavily pretreated breast cancer and in liposarcoma, where almost nothing else had.
EMBRACE (Lancet 2011): OS 13.1 vs 10.6 months versus treatment of physician's choice in pretreated metastatic breast cancer. Liposarcoma approval 2016 (OS 15.6 vs 8.4 months versus dacarbazine in the liposarcoma subgroup). Neuropathy and neutropenia; the payload of the ADC MORAb-202 (farletuzumab ecteribulin).
- Medicare
- Part B (clinician-administered)
Given by infusion or injection in a clinic or hospital outpatient department, so it is a Part B drug: Medicare pays 80% after the Part B deductible and the patient owes 20% coinsurance, uncapped in Original Medicare unless a Medigap policy applies. Generic eribulin has been approved.
- Commercial insurance
- covered with prior authorisation
Covered under the medical benefit with prior authorisation confirming diagnosis, biomarker status and line of therapy; site-of-care policies may steer infusions away from hospital outpatient departments. Plans typically require two prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic breast cancer, per the label.
- Assistance programmes
- Eisai Assistance Program
- PAN Foundation — Disease-specific co-pay and premium funds; open and closed funds change monthly.
- HealthWell Foundation
- CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
- Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief
20% Part B coinsurance on a high-cost infusion adds up quickly: Medigap Plan G or N, Medicare Advantage maximum out-of-pocket, Medicaid dual eligibility, or a charity fund are the usual buffers.
Sources: Medicare.gov: Chemotherapy · Medicare.gov: Prescription drugs (outpatient, Part B). Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.
- Appraised for
- Locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after 2 or more chemotherapy regimens
- NHS England
- Routinely funded for the appraised indication (or via managed access)
Sources: NICE TA423 · SMC advice: eribulin. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.
Approvals
| Region | Year | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| US | 2010 | Metastatic breast cancer after ≥2 regimens including an anthracycline and a taxane |
| US | 2016 | Unresectable or metastatic liposarcoma after anthracycline |
| EU | 2011 | Metastatic breast cancer; liposarcoma (2016) |
Trials
topRecruiting now (live from ClinicalTrials.gov)
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Latest papers
topQuery for this drug: (TITLE:"Eribulin" OR ABSTRACT:"Eribulin" OR TITLE:"Halaven" OR ABSTRACT:"Halaven") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Eribulin, not a curated reading list.
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