CStone Pharmaceuticals’ relationship with Platinib and its price

CStone Pharmaceuticals’ Pralsetinib (Pralsetinib) has become an important clinical treatment option. This drug originates from Blueprint Medicines, a strategic partner of CStone Pharmaceuticals. It is an investigational drug that targets oncogenic RET mutations with oral convenience, potency and high selectivity. CStone Pharmaceuticals has exclusive responsibility for its development and commercialization in Greater China.

Since China's National Medical Products Administration approved platinib as a national first-class new drug in March 2021, this drug has become an important option for the treatment of adult patients with RET gene fusion-positive locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have previously received platinum-containing chemotherapy. Platinib is not only the first RET inhibitor approved for marketing in China, but also the first domestic drug approved using real-world data (RWD) to assist clinical evaluation. Its clinical value is self-evident.

However, for patients, price and accessibility of drugs are also key considerations. Currently, the price of platinib’s original drug on the domestic market is relatively high, and the purchase conditions are also strict, often requiring an investment of tens of thousands of yuan. At the same time, because platinib is not yet covered by medical insurance, patients need to bear the financial pressure at their own expense. This undoubtedly increases the burden for patients to consider when choosing treatment drugs.

However, it is worth noting that there are also some relatively lower-priced versions of platinib on the market. For example, the price of platinib generics sold in overseas markets may be in the range of several thousand yuan, and will also be affected by exchange rate fluctuations. This provides a degree of choice for patients seeking more economical treatment options.