What diseases does Quizartinib treat? How much does it cost? Is it included in medical insurance?

Quizartinib (Quizartinib), trade name VANFLYTA, is an oral highly effective II type FLT3 (Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3) inhibitor, specifically used to treat FLT3-ITD (internal tandem repeat) mutation-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) adult patients. Acute myeloid leukemia is a malignant clonal disease originating from hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow. It is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults. It develops rapidly and progresses rapidly, seriously threatening the life and health of patients. FLT3gene mutation is one of the common molecular markers in AML, among which FLT3-ITD mutation is particularly common and closely related to patients’ poor prognosis, high recurrence rate and short survival time.

Quizatinib exerts its anti-leukemia effect by selectively inhibiting the activity ofFLT3tyrosine kinase. FLT3 is a receptor tyrosine kinase highly expressed in leukemia cells, especially playing a key role in AML. FLT3Gene mutations can lead to abnormal activation of FLT3 receptors, thereby promoting the proliferation, survival and migration of leukemia cells. Quizartinib and its main active metaboliteAC886 can bind to the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding domain of FLT3 with considerable affinity, inhibitingFLT3kinase activity prevents receptor autophosphorylation, thereby blocking downstream FLT3 receptor signaling, inhibiting FLT3-ITD-dependent cell proliferation, and inducing cancer cell apoptosis. In addition, quizartinib can also inhibit other signaling pathways related to leukemia and enhance its anti-tumor effect.

Quizatinib has shown significant efficacy in clinical studies. According to data from multiple clinical trials, quizartinib can significantly improve the complete response rate (CR) and disease-free survival (RFS) in patients with FLT3mutation-positive AML. Especially in relapsed or refractory AMLAmong the patients, quizartinib provided more effective tumor control and helped some patients achieve long-term survival. In addition, quizartinib has also been proven to be used in combination with other treatment options (such as chemotherapy, other targeted therapies, etc.) to further enhance its anti-tumor effect. Through combined treatment, patients can obtain a broader therapeutic response and improve survival.

However, Quizartinib may also cause some side effects during use. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, headache and other gastrointestinal and nervous system discomforts. In addition, quizartinib may prolong the QT interval and increase the risk of arrhythmia. Therefore, patients need to closely monitor their electrocardiogram and heart rate while using quizartinib to ensure the safety of the treatment. If serious side effects or discomfort occur, patients should inform their doctor immediately and stop using the drug.

Quizatinib is not currently on the market in China, and domestic patients cannot directly purchase it. Therefore, quizartinib is not included in domestic medical insurance reimbursement items. However, it is understood that the drug has been sold overseas. The price of the European original version (17.7mg, 28 tablets) is close to 80,000 yuan, while the Laotian generic version (17.7mg, 14 tablets) is priced lower, about 1,800 yuan.

Quizatinib, as a therapeutic drug targeting FLT3-ITD mutations, provides a new treatment option for AML patients. It can not only be used alone, but can also be used in combination with standard chemotherapy regimens to improve treatment effects and prolong patient survival. Although quizartinib has some side effects, overall, its safety and efficacy are good, and it can significantly improve the prognosis of patients with FLT3 mutation-positive AML. With the accumulation of more clinical data, quizartinib is expected to play a more important role in the treatment of AML and bring more treatment hope to patients.

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Reference: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6081740/