How much does a box of Gefitinib cost?

Gefitinib (Gefitinib) is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It belongs to the first generation of targeted drugs because it is one of the earliest drugs used for targeted treatment of tumors. It acts on EGFR on tumor cells, thereby blocking its signaling pathway, inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting cell apoptosis.

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.

Although gefitinib has achieved significant therapeutic effects in some patients, not allNSCLC patients are sensitive to it. In addition, with the deepening of research, the problem of gefitinib resistance has emerged, and the efficacy of the drug has weakened in some patients after long-term use. Therefore, researchers continue to work hard to find new treatment strategies, including the development of second- and third-generation targeted drugs, to overcome these limitations.

To sum up, gefitinib, as the first generation of targeted drugs, interferes with tumor cell signaling pathways by inhibiting the activity of EGFR receptor tyrosine kinase, which is an important breakthrough in the field of lung cancer treatment. Although its application is subject to some limitations, it paves the way for the development of targeted therapy and also inspires the direction of further research and drug innovation.