Know the news early: Has brigatinib/brigatinib entered the medical insurance?

Brigatinib is used to treat a type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body. Brigatinib belongs to the kinase inhibitor class of drugs. It works by blocking the activity of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps slow or stop the spread of cancer cells. As of April 2024, the original drug of brigatinib has been launched in China, and has also entered the scope of Class B medical insurance reimbursement through the relevant policies of the National Medical Insurance Bureau. Patients who meet the indications can use medical insurance to purchase drugs, but specific relevant policies should be consulted with the local Medical Insurance Bureau and other places.

The indications for brigatinib in China are limited to patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. ALK+NSCLC accounts for only 3-5% of non-small cell lung cancer cancer cases, but ALK mutations, overexpression and presence of multiple oncogenic fusion proteins in solid tumors and hematological tumors demonstrate its importance and potential as a cancer therapeutic target.

Cases of ALK-related NSCL are associated with the presence of the fusion gene EML4-ALK, which fuses the ALK protein to the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein like-4, whose original function is the correct formation of microtubules. The presence of abnormal fusion proteins leads to abnormal signaling, causing accelerated cell growth, proliferation and survival. Crizotinib is suitable for the treatment of such cases, but the presence of mutations in the ALK kinase domain can lead to resistance to treatment. Therefore, Bugatinib is suitable for the treatment of patients with ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer who are intolerant to crizotinib.