How much does a box of targeted drug lorlatinib/lorlatinib cost in 2024?

Lorlatinib (Lorlatinib) is a cancer drug used to treat adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) when the disease is advanced and ALK-positive, meaning something has changed in the cancer cells that affects the gene responsible for a protein called ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase). Lorlatinib is used alone when the disease has not been previously treated with other drugs of the same class (called ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors [TKIs]). When disease progresses, lorlatinib may be used alone despite treatment with other ALK tkis.

ALK belongs to a family of enzymes called receptor tyrosine kinases, which are involved in cell growth and the development of new blood vessels that supply the cells. Patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer produce an abnormal form of ALK, causing cancer cells to divide and grow in an uncontrolled manner. LorlatinibActive substancelorlatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It works by blocking the activity of ALK, thereby reducing the growth and spread of cancer cells.

The original drug is marketed in China as lorlatinib and has been included in medical insurance. The common specifications are 25mg*90 tablets and 100mg*30 tablets. The price per box may be around 10,000 to 20,000 RMB. The price of the Hong Kong original research version may be 30,000 to 50,000 RMB per box (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate), which is relatively expensive. There are relatively cheap generic drugs sold overseas, and their drug ingredients are basically the same as the original drugs. Taking the ones produced by relevant pharmaceutical factories in Laos as an example, the price of each box of 100mg*30 tablets may be around 3,000 yuan (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate).