Gefitinib price in 2023

Gefitinib (Gefitinib) is an oral targeted drug widely used in the treatment of lung cancer. It belongs to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) class of drugs, which blocks tumor growth and spread by interfering with the signaling pathways within cancer cells. The development and application of gefitinib has brought new treatment options to some patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Gefitinib was launched in China in 2005. At that time, the price of a box was about 5,000 yuan. Enter medical insurance in China in 2017. The price after medical insurance has dropped a lot. For the specific price after medical insurance, please consult the local hospital pharmacy or the medical insurance bureau. Other versions include original drugs and cost-effective generic drugs. Generic drugs include generic drugs from India, Bangladesh and Laos. The prices vary with different specifications, about 200~800yuan, and the ingredients of generic drugs are basically the same as domestic drugs.

Gefitinib mainly works by inhibiting the activity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR is a protein closely related to cell growth and differentiation. It may be overexpressed or mutated in some lung cancers, causing uncontrolled growth of tumor cells. Gefitinib binds to EGFR and inhibits its activation, thus interfering with the signal transmission process in tumor cells and inhibiting tumor growth.

This drug is often used to treat patients with NSCLC who have EGFR mutations, especially those who have not undergone chemotherapy or radiation or who have failed to respond to treatment. The advantage of gefitinib is that it is administered orally. Compared with traditional chemotherapy, it can reduce many chemotherapy-related side effects and improve patients' quality of life.

However, gefitinib may also cause some side effects, including skin reactions, diarrhea, abnormal liver function, etc. Therefore, when using gefitinib, doctors will monitor and manage according to the patient's specific situation to ensure that the patient can obtain the best therapeutic effect and reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions.