Can Palbociclib Completely Cure?

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer and the most common cancer in women. Although treatable, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains a virtually incurable disease, with a median overall survival (OS) of 3 years and a 5-year OS of only 25%. Palbociclib (Palbociclib) is an oral, first-in-class, highly selective cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor. It is not a drug that can completely cure breast cancer. At present, the treatment of breast cancer is usually comprehensive, including the combination of surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and other treatment methods.

Available clinical data include patient-reported outcomes and subgroup analyses. In postmenopausal women, palbociclib significantly improved progression-free survival and clinical benefit when added to letrozole as initial endocrine-based therapy, and in randomized clinical trials, it prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival when added to fulvestrant in women who had progressed on prior endocrine therapy. Tolerability was manageable, neutropenia was most common, and there was no adverse effect on quality of life.

PalbociclibThe original drug has been launched in China and has been included in medical insurance. Currently, reimbursement is only available to patients who meet the indications. The common specifications100mg*21 pills may cost more than 6,000 yuan per box, while the original drug sold overseas is more expensive. The price of 125mg*21 pills per box may be around 10,000 yuan (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates). Palbociclib generics are also sold overseas. The ingredients of the drug are basically the same as those sold domestically and abroad, but the price is cheap. For example, the price of a box of 125mg*21 tablets produced by a Bangladesh pharmaceutical factory may be several hundred yuan (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate).