Efficacy of Nilotinib

Many studies have shown that nilotinib has an important role in helping to control chronic myelogenous leukemia. Here is a brief description of these studies and the effects they measured.

(1) A study of 320 adults with chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) showed that treatment with nilotinib resulted in what is known as a major cytogenetic response (when the proportion of white blood cells containing the Philadelphia chromosome in the bone marrow drops below 35%). In the study, approximately 49% of patients, the majority of whom had stopped responding to imatinib, achieved such a response after approximately 11 months of nilotinib treatment.

(2) Another study of 119 adults with accelerated phase chronic myelogenous leukemia looked at hematological responses (when the number of white blood cells in the blood returns to normal). After approximately 7 months of nilotinib treatment, 42% of patients experienced this response, and the majority of these patients also stopped responding to imatinib.

(3) A third study compared nilotinib and imatinib in 846 adults with newly diagnosed chronic-phase CML. It focused on another indicator called major molecular response (when the proportion of a patient's white blood cells capable of producing the abnormal Bcr-Abl kinase drops below 0.1%). Depending on the dose, 43% to 44% of patients taking nilotinib achieved this response after 12 months.

(4) Two further studies of adults with chronic-phase CML who had been treated with nilotinib for at least 3 years and whose disease was well controlled for at least 1 year showed that the drug's benefits were maintained after treatment was discontinued. In a study of 190 patients initially treated with nilotinib, 52% were still responding 48 weeks after discontinuing nilotinib. In the second study, 126 patients were switched from imatinib to tacina, and 58% remained responsive 48 weeks after discontinuing tacina.

(5) A final study showed that nilotinib is also effective in children with chronic phase CML. In this study of 58 children, 39% of children with cancer did not respond to other drugs such as imatinib at 12 months, and 64% of children with newly diagnosed cancer had a major molecular response to nilotinib at 6 months.

The original drug Nilotinib is marketed in China under the name Nilotinib and is covered by medical insurance, but reimbursement is limited to patients who meet the indications. SpecificationsThe price of 150 mg*120 pills per box may be around RMB 9,000. The price of the Indian version of the original drug 150 mg*28 pills per box of 150 mg*28 pills sold overseas may be around RMB 1,000 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The ingredients of the original medicine sold domestically and abroad are basically the same. There is currently no generic version of Nilotinib on the market. For more drug information and specific prices, please consult the medical consultant of YaDe.