The role and efficacy of Erdafitinib

Erdafitinib (Erdafitinib) is an oral, small molecule fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor1-4 inhibitor, used to treat advanced, unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Fibroblast growth factors include 22 related ligands that act on cells through more than 20 different FGF receptors. These receptors act in multiple pathways, including stimulating cell growth, proliferation and differentiation.

FGF receptor mutations or rearrangements occur in 5% to 10% of cancers and are particularly common in urothelial and cholangiocarcinomas (10%-30%). Inhibition of excessive FGF receptor 1-4 activity reduces cell proliferation and growth and leads to regression of tumors expressing these mutations in experimental animals. Erdafitinib is a pan-FGF receptor inhibitor that has been shown to cause objective responses in approximately 40% of patients with advanced urothelial cancer who have activating mutations in the FGF receptor. Specifically, Erdafitinib inhibits FGFR phosphorylation and signaling and reduces cell viability in cell lines expressing altered FGFR genes. Erdafitinib exhibits antitumor activity in cell lines expressing FGFR and xenograft models derived from tumor types.

The original version of erdafitinib has not yet been launched in China, so it cannot be covered by medical insurance. The original version of erdafitinib currently sold in Hong Kong may cost more than 20,000 yuan per box of specifications 4mg*14 tablets (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates). Cheaper erdafitinib generic drugs produced by other pharmaceutical factories are also sold overseas. The pharmaceutical ingredients are basically the same as those of the original drug. For example, the price of 4mg*60 tablets produced by a Bangladeshi pharmaceutical factory may be more than 3,000 yuan per box (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates).