Lorlatinib/Lorlatinib debuts in China, lung cancer patients welcome new drug

Lorlatinib/Lorlatinib developed by Pfizer (Pfizer) has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration in China and has officially entered the Chinese market under the brand name of Lorlatinib Tablets (LORBRENA). This major news brings new treatment options for patients with ALK-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. What makes patients even more gratified is that the drug has been included in the scope of national medical insurance Class B reimbursement, and eligible patients can enjoy the medical insurance reimbursement policy. At present, domestic hospitals may put this drug on the shelves.

Lorlatinib, as a third-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has long been famous overseas. In November 2018, it was approved for the first time by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of ALK-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Its efficacy was widely recognized, and it was subsequently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2019 for the treatment of patients with advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer who have undergone pre-treatment. After several years of clinical application and observation, in 2022, EMA further expanded the treatment scope of lorlatinib and recommended it as a first-line treatment for advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer.

Although the original drug lorlatinib has not been on the market for a long time in China, its excellent efficacy has been widely recognized by doctors and patients. Currently, the common specifications on the market include 25mg 90 tablets and 100mg 30 tablets packaging. Due to factors such as the launch of new drugs and the research and development costs of original drugs, the current price per box is around RMB 10,000 to 20,000. For patients who pursue higher cost performance, the original version is also available in the Hong Kong market, but the price is relatively high, about RMB 30,000 to RMB 50,000 per box (the price may change due to exchange rate fluctuations).