Is ixazomib a chemotherapy drug or a targeted drug?

Ixazomib (Ixazomib) is a targeted drug rather than a traditional chemotherapy drug. It belongs to the proteasome inhibitor class and is used primarily to treat multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that usually occurs in plasma cells in the bone marrow.

Targeted drugs are fundamentally different from traditional chemotherapy drugs. Traditional chemotherapy drugs typically kill rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells and normal cells, in a systemic manner, thus causing a wide range of toxicities and side effects. A limitation of this therapy is that it cannot effectively differentiate between cancer cells and normal cells, so patients may experience uncomfortable symptoms such as nausea, hair loss, and immune system suppression.

Instead, ixazomib is a targeted drug that specifically targets a specific biological molecule or process in multiple myeloma. Specifically, ixazomib affects the metabolism and survival of cancer cells by inhibiting intracellular proteasome function. The targeted nature of the drug allows it to interfere with cancer cells more precisely while reducing adverse effects on normal cells. This means patients typically experience fewer toxic side effects when treated with ixazomib, a major advantage of targeted therapies.

The original drug of Ixazomib has been launched in China and has been included in medical insurance. Patients can purchase it domestically, but the price is still relatively high. The price is about 15,000 to 6,000 yuan. For specific prices and medical insurance reimbursement policies, please consult the local hospital pharmacy or medical insurance bureau. Foreign original drugs are even more expensive. The cheaper foreign ones are ixazomib generics, mainly Laotian generics. The price is more than 1,000 yuan, and the ingredients of the original drugs and generic drugs are basically the same.