Has larotrectinib been launched in China and included in medical insurance?

Larotrectinib is a highly selective NTRK gene fusion targeted drug specifically designed to treat patients with solid tumors carrying NTRK gene fusions, including lung cancer, thyroid cancer, breast cancer and other cancer types, regardless of the specific location or type of tumor. The drug will be officially approved for marketing in China in 2024 and is suitable for adult and pediatric patients.

Larotinib, as the world's first TRK inhibitor, inhibits the proliferation and spread of tumor cells by blocking the signaling pathway of NTRK gene fusion protein. Clinical trials have shown that its objective response rate (ORR) reaches 75%-80% and some patients can achieve long-term survival. The drug has a broad spectrum of efficacy and has significant effects on various types of solid tumors.

At present, although larotrectinib has been marketed in China, it has not yet been included in the national medical insurance directory. Due to the short time on the market, patients may have difficulty obtaining the medicine in the hospital. For details, they can consult the local hospital pharmacy. If it cannot be obtained through domestic channels, some patients can purchase drugs overseas.

In China, the price of larotrectinib has not been clearly disclosed, but referring to foreign market data, the price of its original drug is 1 million to 2 million / box. In comparison, the price of generic drugs (such as the Lao version and the Bangladeshi version) is about 2000 to 3000 yuan/ box. Although generic drugs are cheaper, their ingredients are the same as the original drugs and there is little difference in efficacy.

The launch of larotrectinib provides an important treatment option for patients with NTRK gene fusion-positive tumors. However, because it has not yet been included in medical insurance, the economic burden of the drug is still high. Patients need to work with their doctors to develop an optimal treatment plan based on their own financial conditions and condition.