Is Trifluridine Tipiracil Tablets (Lonsurf) covered by medical insurance?

Trifluridine tipiracil tablets (Lonsurf) is indicated alone or in combination with bevacizumab for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have previously received fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapy, anti-VEGF biologic therapies, and anti-EGFR therapies. The combination product is also indicated for adult patients with metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have received at least two prior chemotherapy regimens, including fluoropyrimidine, platinum, taxane, or irinotecan, and, if appropriate, HER2/neu-targeted therapy. The recommended dose of trifluridine and tipiracil tablets is 35 mg/m2/dose twice daily with food on days 1-5 and 8-12 of each 28-day cycle.

TrifluridineThe original drug of tipiracil tablets has been marketed in China under the trade name Longsif, but it has not yet entered the scope of medical insurance. Patients who need this drug for treatment cannot be reimbursed through medical insurance and can only purchase it at their own expense. The price of common specifications15mg*20 tablets per box may be around 6,000 RMB, and the price of the Hong Kong version of the original drug per box may be more than 10,000 RMB (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates).

The Japanese version of the original trifluridine tipiracil tablets marketed overseas may cost around more than 5,000 yuan per box (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates). There are also cheaper generic versions of trifluridine and tipiracil tablets available overseas. Their pharmaceutical ingredients are basically the same as those of the original drugs sold domestically and abroad. For example, the price of each box produced by an Indian pharmaceutical factory may be around more than 1,000 yuan (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates).