Is Crizotinib a chemotherapy drug?

Crizotinib (Crizotinib) is not a traditional chemotherapy drug. It is a targeted cancer drug, also known asXalkori. This is a treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has changes in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) or ROS1 genes. Doctors will check patients' cancers for these genetic changes.

Crizotinib is a targeted therapeutic drug that targets abnormal protein kinases in specific cancer cells. It can also be called a cancer growth retardant called tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It blocks the activity of two abnormal kinases, ALK (tyrosine kinase receptor tyrosine kinase) and ROS1 (tyrosine kinase receptor tyrosine kinase), and blocks their signal transduction pathways, thereby inhibiting the growth and spread of tumor cells. Compared with traditional chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapy drugs have a more precise mechanism of action, can more effectively inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and have relatively few side effects on normal cells.

The original drug Crizotinib has been launched in China and is covered by medical insurance, but it is only reimbursed for patients who meet the indications. The price per box may be around RMB 15,000. The price of the original Turkish version of Crizotinib sold overseas may be more than RMB 10,000 per box (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates), which is expensive. There are also cheaper generic crizotinib drugs available overseas. The ingredients are basically similar to those of the original drugs sold domestically and abroad. For example, the price of 250mg*60 tablets produced by a Bangladesh pharmaceutical factory may be more than 2,000 yuan per box (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates).