The efficacy and price of brigatinib/brigatinib

Brigatinib is a potent and selective next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) designed to target molecular alterations in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). Brigatinib has been approved in more than 40 countries, including the United States, China, Canada and the European Union, for the treatment of patients with ALK+ metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who are taking crizotinib but whose non-small cell lung cancer has worsened or who cannot tolerate taking crizotinib.

The initial marketing approval of brigatinib was based on results from the Phase 3 ALTA-1L trial, which is evaluating the safety and efficacy of alonbrig versus crizotinib in adult patients with ALK+ locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who have not received prior ALK inhibitor therapy. The study showed that brigatinib was superior to crizotinib, had significant antitumor activity, particularly in patients with baseline brain metastases, and had a lower pill burden of one pill per day.

After the original brigatinib drug was launched in China, it was also included in the Category B medical insurance directory, providing patients with more medication options. There are various pharmaceutical specifications currently available on the market, including 30 mg 14 tablets in 2 plates, 90 mg 7 tablets or 7 tablets in 4 plates, and 180 mg 7 tablets in 4 plates. However, it should be noted that the price of this medicine is relatively high, and each box may cost close to 10,000 yuan.

At the same time, overseas markets also provide cost-effective generic options for brigatinib. These generic drugs are highly consistent in active ingredients with the original drugs. Take a 90 mg 30-tablet generic drug produced by a pharmaceutical factory in Bangladesh as an example. The price is about 2,000 yuan per box (the specific price may change due to exchange rate fluctuations), providing patients with a more economical treatment option.