Can pemetinib/pemetinib be reimbursed by medical insurance?

Pemigatinib/Pemigatinib is a drug used to treat certain patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma who have FGFR gene mutations. Medicare reimbursement rules may vary by region and specific insurance plan. It is understood that although the original drug Pemetinib has been marketed in China, this drug has not yet been included in the scope of medical insurance. Therefore, patients cannot use national medical insurance for reimbursement and can only purchase this drug at their own expense. For specific prices, please consult the local hospital pharmacy.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) accounts for approximately 3% of gastrointestinal malignancies and has a high mortality rate. Recent advances in understanding cholangiocarcinoma tumorigenesis and molecular markers have led to the development of several targeted therapies for this disease. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR 2) gene fusion or translocation leading to constitutive activation of FGFR tyrosine kinase has been identified as a driver of tumorigenesis in 10-15% of intrahepatic CCA. Pemetinib is an FGFR inhibitor that has shown survival benefit in second-line treatment of CCA refractory to FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement. Pemetinib is the first FDA-approved targeted therapy for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.

As with all medications, pemetinib should be used with caution. In animal studies, pemetinib was found to have potentially teratogenic and embryotoxic effects in pregnant rats. Therefore, lactating female patients should avoid breastfeeding during treatment with pemetinib. In addition, although exposure to pemetinib in humans is relatively low, abnormal bone development has been observed in some animal experiments, suggesting that we may need to pay attention to its potential effects on the skeletal system when using this drug.