Lorlatinib medical insurance price in 2023

Lorlatinib (Lorlatinib) is an innovative drug mainly used to treat specific types of cancer, especially non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Lorlatinib has been launched in China and is included in medical insurance. Patients can purchase it domestically, but the price is relatively high, about 10,000 to 20,000 yuan. For details, please consult the local hospital pharmacy. There are original drugs and cheaper generic drugs abroad. The cheaper ones are the original drugs from Turkey, which cost more than 1,000 yuan, and the original drugs from Hong Kong, China, which cost about 30,000 yuan. Generic drugs are mainly generic drugs from Laos and Bangladesh. The price is about several thousand yuan, and the ingredients of the original drugs and generic drugs are basically the same.

Its main mechanism of action is to prevent abnormal signal transduction by inhibiting the activity of ALK (tyrosine kinase) and ROS1 protein, thereby inhibiting the growth and spread of cancer cells. Lorlatinib is administered by the oral route and is rapidly absorbed, typically reaching peak concentrations within hours.

Clinically, lorlatinib has been shown to have significant efficacy in patients with ALK mutation-positive advanced or metastatic NSCLC. It can be used alone or as a single treatment option when other treatments are ineffective or unsuitable.

However, patients may experience some common side effects while using lorlatinib, including fatigue, cough, nausea, vomiting, headache, high blood pressure, etc. Therefore, patients need to closely monitor their symptoms and discomfort during medication and maintain good communication with their doctors.

Lorlatinib also comes with some warnings and precautions, including the risk of pneumonia, the possibility of visual disturbance, and interactions with other medications. Patients should consult their doctor in detail before using lorlatinib, especially about the possible risks and benefits.