Can giritinib treat leukemia?

Gilteritinib is an oral treatment for adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3). Giritinibis the first and only FLT3-targeted therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this patient population.

Patients are required to test for FLT3 mutations using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvedLeukoStrat CDx FLT3 mutation assay developed by Invivoscribe Technologies. About 25% to 30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia have FLT3 mutations, which are associated with a particularly aggressive form of the disease. Giritinibinhibits multiple receptor tyrosine kinases, including FLT3. It has been shown to be effective against two FLT3 mutations, the FLT3 internal tandem repeat (ITD) and the FLT3 tyrosine kinase domain (TKD).

The original drug of geritinib has been launched in China, but it has not yet been included in the medical insurance. The price of each box of 40mg*42 tablets may be more than 20,000 yuan. The price of the Hong Kong version of the original drug is about 90,000 yuan per box. The price of the European version of the original drug, 40mg*84 tablets, per box listed overseas is around RMB 210,000 (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates), which is very expensive. Generic drugs of giritinib are currently produced and sold overseas, and their drug ingredients are basically the same as those of the original drugs sold domestically and abroad. For example, the price of 40mg*84 tablets per box produced by a Laos pharmaceutical factory is more than 4,000 yuan (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate).