Aromasin® Cost Too High For Breast Cancer Treatment? How To Get Affordable Generic Exemestane Globally

Summary - This blog explains how women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer can get affordable generic Exemestane (Aromasin® alternative) through compliant global personal importation. It covers how the medicine works, why branded Aromasin® remains expensive and generic Exemestane is not readily available in some markets & how patients can obtain high-quality generic versions through MedsPartner in these scenarios.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide & a large proportion of cases are hormone receptor-positive - meaning the cancer relies on estrogen to grow. For postmenopausal women with this type of breast cancer, aromatase inhibitors like exemestane (brand name Aromasin®) are a key part of long-term treatment - to control estrogen levels.

While the cost of branded Aromasin® is quite high, the good news is that exemestane has been off-patent since 2018 & generic versions are available & inexpensive in many countries. But this is not the case everywhere. In some countries, generic exemestane is either not registered or not consistently stocked, leaving the branded version as the only available option - which is too expensive for a lot of families. Separately, even where generics exist, individual brands can occasionally be discontinued or face manufacturing-related shortages, which matters for a medicine often taken daily for years. Through MedsPartner, patients can access generic exemestane at low cost - sourced from an FDA/EMA-approved Indian manufacturer via personal importation. In this blog we explain more about this option.

What is Exemestane used for? How does it work?

Exemestane (brand name Aromasin®) is an oral medicine used to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It belongs to a class of medicines called aromatase inhibitors.

Mechanism of action - After menopause, the body still produces small amounts of estrogen through an enzyme called aromatase. Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer cells use this estrogen to grow. Exemestane works by binding irreversibly to the aromatase enzyme & inactivating it, which significantly lowers estrogen levels in the body & helps slow or stop the growth of these cancer cells.

Any latest updates on Exemestane I should know of?

1. Supply issues with generic exemestane 

Generic exemestane availability in many regions is disrupted by supply issues. Health Canada's drug shortage database shows that branded Aromasin 25mg was discontinued in Canada in November 2024 & generic exemestane products have also had reported shortages there from time to time. Similarly, Australia's TGA shortage database has listed two exemestane generic brands as unavailable due to manufacturing issues. 

For patients affected by a discontinuation or temporary shortage of their usual brand, having a reliable alternative source like MedsPartner can help avoid a gap in treatment.

2. Aromasin vs Arimidex

Exemestane (Aromasin®) is often compared with anastrozole (Arimidex®) - another commonly prescribed hormone therapy for breast cancer. Both medicines have been shown to work well, but may have different long-term outcomes based on specific clinical history. Treatment decisions are always individual - so it's worth discussing the benefits and risks of each option with your oncologist. 

Why is Aromasin® priced so high & why aren't generics available everywhere?

Branded Aromasin® is priced high to cover the original development & commercialisation costs. Where no generic is available locally, that branded price is the only option patients have.

Generic availability varies because manufacturers register products country by country & timelines differ widely. In some markets, no generic may be registered or actively marketed, so pharmacies stock only the branded version. Separately, even established generics can face manufacturing-related shortages or discontinuations. In either case, personal import of generic exemestane through MedsPartner offers patients a reliable source for high-quality generic exemestane.

What is the price of Aromasin® compared to Generic Exemestane from MedsPartner?

Standard dosing of Exemestane is 25mg once daily - 30 tablets per month. In the US, generic exemestane is available, but branded Aromasin® remains priced far higher for the same medicine.

For patients in the US, the lowest-priced domestic generic at around USD 40 per month is already an affordable option & patients should check this with their local pharmacy first. But MedsPartner's price of USD 50 per month is most relevant for patients in countries where no local generic is available and branded Aromasin® is the only option with a high price of ~USD 1,189. It offers savings of approximately 96% versus branded pricing.

Is international personal import of Generic Exemestane legal?

Yes. Many countries allow personal import of prescription medicines in limited quantities for individual use - provided the patient holds a valid prescription from a doctor & complies with local regulations. MedsPartner ships generic exemestane as per each patient's regional import rules, so patients & families do not have to figure out the process alone.

Through over 30,000 shipments, patients across 45+ countries have accessed essential medicines through MedsPartner's personal import pathway - getting uninterrupted medicine supply at affordable prices.

How can I place an order for Generic Exemestane on MedsPartner?

Patients can first review pricing & product details on the MedsPartner exemestane product page before placing an order request. After receiving your prescription, the MedsPartner team reviews the details, checks the personal import rules for your country & lets you know if any additional documents are needed.

Once everything is in place and payment is done, your medicine is sourced from an FDA/EMA-approved manufacturer & prepared for shipment with the necessary customs paperwork. The goal is to make the process as straightforward as possible - so patients & their families can focus on treatment while we handle the logistics.

Why should I trust Generic Exemestane from MedsPartner?

MedsPartner sources generic exemestane only from FDA/EMA-approved manufacturers. All medicines undergo quality & authenticity checks before dispatch. Patients receive manufacturer details & expiry data for each order & can track their shipment in real time until it arrives.

For over 9 years, MedsPartner has helped patients across 45+ countries access affordable medicines through compliant personal importation pathways & holds a 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot from patients across the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand & many other countries.

Case Study - Helping Margaret from Australia during a generic shortage

Margaret, a 64-year-old in Perth, had been taking a generic brand of exemestane as part of her adjuvant hormonal therapy following early-stage breast cancer. When her pharmacy was unable to refill her usual generic brand due to a manufacturing-related shortage listed on the TGA's database, Margaret wanted a more dependable backup option in case similar shortages keep happening.

After searching on reddit for where to buy exemestane  Margaret got to know about MedsPartner and placed an order right away. After providing a valid prescription & supporting medical documents, she was able to obtain quality-assured generic exemestane through MedsPartner, shipped directly to Perth. For Margaret, having this option meant she felt more confident about continuing her therapy without interruption, regardless of local supply fluctuations.

FAQs on Aromasin® & affordable Generic Exemestane

Q1. Is generic exemestane on MedsPartner as effective as branded Aromasin®?

A - Yes. The active ingredient in generic exemestane is identical to that in branded Aromasin® & MedsPartner only sources from reputed FDA/EMA-approved manufacturers to ensure quality. Bioequivalence testing confirms these generics behave the same way in the body as the original drug. The generic version is approved in various countries by regulators and already used by patients worldwide.

Q2. Is it legal to import generic exemestane for personal use?

A - In most countries, yes - personal import of essential medicines is allowed for patients who have a valid prescription & any other documents their country requires. MedsPartner's team can talk you through how this applies where you live & arrange your order according to the relevant personal import laws. 

Q3. How can I trust the quality of generic exemestane from MedsPartner?

A - MedsPartner works exclusively with FDA/EMA-approved manufacturers for sourcing generic exemestane. Every medicine goes through quality & authenticity checks before it is dispatched & details like the manufacturer & expiry date are provided with each order. You can also browse customer reviews on Trustpilot to see how other patients have found the service. 

Q4. Can doctors order generic exemestane for patients?

A - Doctors can email support@medspartner.com with their patient's details & our team will get in touch with the patient directly to verify documents. Once that's done, we ship generic exemestane from an FDA/EMA-approved Indian manufacturer in line with the patient's local personal import regulations. 

Q5. What are the common side effects of Aromasin® / exemestane in females?

A - Common side effects of exemestane include hot flushes, joint & muscle pain, fatigue, increased sweating, headache & nausea. Long-term use can also reduce bone mineral density, so your doctor may monitor bone health periodically during treatment. Please consult your doctor on side effect management.

Q6. What is the step-by-step personal import process for patients ordering through MedsPartner?

A - Start by checking product and pricing details on the website & submitting an order request - no payment is needed at this stage. Once you upload a valid prescription, MedsPartner checks the import requirements specific to your country, confirms the necessary documentation & arranges international delivery from an FDA/EMA-approved manufacturer after payment is completed.

Q7. What if my insurance denies coverage or demands a high co-pay for Aromasin®?

A - Ask your oncologist whether switching to generic exemestane is an option, since generics are typically far less expensive and contain the same active ingredient. In the US, Pfizer Oncology Together offers copay savings on branded Aromasin® of up to USD 10,000 per calendar year for eligible commercially insured patients. If branded pricing or insurance remains an issue, importing generic exemestane through MedsPartner allows treatment to continue without interruption at lower costs.

Q8. Are there any other support options for getting Aromasin® at a lower cost?

A - In the US, the Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation and the HealthWell Foundation offer copay assistance for eligible patients. Affordable generics are another option, if they are available in your country. If not, you can source low-cost generic exemestane from an FDA/EMA-approved manufacturer in India through MedsPartner.

Get reliable global access to generic exemestane with MedsPartner

In countries where generic exemestane is not available or not consistently stocked, breast cancer patients can be left paying high branded prices with no local alternative. For patients facing this situation, MedsPartner helps access quality-assured generic exemestane through compliant personal importation, so that long-term breast cancer treatment is not interrupted.

Need guidance on personal importation of generic exemestane? Write to us to learn how to access affordable Aromasin® alternatives safely & legally in your country, or place an order directly on our exemestane product page.

About the Author - Aayyush Goyal has a background in healthcare consulting & pharmaceutical supply chains - with over a decade of experience in drug pricing, regulatory policy & patient rights. He has advised patients, advocacy groups, & healthcare providers across 40+ countries on safe and compliant access to essential medicines. Through MedsPartner - Aayyush has overseen more than 30,000 successful patient deliveries worldwide, ensuring affordability without compromising safety or legality. He is a recognised advocate for ethical sourcing, generic access & cross-border care solutions - and has contributed insights on global drug access in healthcare forums, media publications & patient support networks.