Which one is better, Nintedanib or Pirfenidone?

Two drugs, nintedanib and pirfenidone, have been shown to slow the decline in forced vital capacity (FVC), reduce exacerbations, and reduce the number of hospitalizations for respiratory events. Pirfenidone is an anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic drug that inhibits collagen synthesis and reduces fibroblast proliferation, while nintedanib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets growth factor pathways. Both treatments are expensive and may have side effects.

Because nintedanib and pirfenidone have different mechanisms of action, each person may respond differently to these medications. There are no direct comparative studies showing which drug works better. In the current observational study, nintedanib and pirfenidone were equally effective in reducing the decline in FVC and DLCO after 24 months of treatment compared with untreated patients; however, patients with more advanced disease may show a more rapid decline in respiratory function.

The original drug of nintedanib is marketed in China as nintedanib ethanesulfonate soft capsules and is covered by Class B medical insurance, but reimbursement is limited to patients who meet the indications. SpecificationsThe price of each box of 150mg*30 capsules may be more than 4,000 yuan. Nintedanib Original drug available overseas has Turkish version and Indian version, specificationsThe price of 150mg*60 capsules per box may be more than 5,000 RMB (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). There are also nintedanib generic drugs produced overseas in other countries. For example, the price of 150mg*30 capsules produced by BDR Pharmaceutical Factory in India may be several hundred yuan per box (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates). Its pharmaceutical ingredients are basically the same as those of the original drugs sold domestically and abroad.