Is Alpelisib-Piqray a targeted drug?

Alpelisib-Piqray is a targeted therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who test positive for PIK3CA gene mutations. It is a PI3K (phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase) inhibitor, a drug that works by blocking a pathway in cancer cells called PI3K, which can cause breast cancer to stop responding to hormone therapy. It is used together with the hormone therapy fulvestrant (Faslodex).

Mutations in the PIK3CA gene cause the PI3K pathway in breast cancer cells to become overactive, causing some breast cancers to stop responding to hormone therapy. Apelvis blocks the growth and spread of breast cancer cells by inhibiting specific enzymes in the PI3K signaling pathway, and works together with hormone therapy to prevent the growth of cancer. This targeted therapy drug can act on cancer cells more specifically, reduce damage to normal cells, and improve the therapeutic effect.

The original drug of Apellis is not marketed in the country and therefore cannot be included in medical insurance. There are European and Indian versions of the original Apelvis drug sold overseas. The ingredients are basically the same. The price of the European version of 150mg*56 tablets per box may be more than 4 RMB 40,000 ( (The price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate), The price of the Indian version150mg*28 tablets per box may be more than 5,000 yuan (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). There are currently no generic versions of Apelvis produced and marketed.