Is Pomalidomide a chemotherapy drug?

Pomalidomide is a chemotherapy drug that belongs to a class of immunomodulators and anti-tumor drugs and is commonly used to treat patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The drug works through multiple mechanisms to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells while improving the immune system's response to them. Because each patient's condition is different, only the doctor can decide whether to use this drug on a case-by-case basis.

Pomalidomide is a third-generation oral immunomodulatory drug that is effective in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (rrMM). Pomalidomide (4 mg daily in 21/28-day cycles), along with weekly dexamethasone, is the established standard of care for rrMM, with significantly consistent progression-free survival (PFS) of 4.0-4.6 months in two phase III trials of MM-003 and MM-010. However, toxicity was considerable, with 60% of patients experiencing treatment-related grade 3/4 events. In MM-003, neutropenia and pneumonitis were significantly more common with pomalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone than with high-dose dexamethasone alone

Pomalidomide, independently developed in China, has been launched domestically and has now entered the scope of medical insurance. The price of domestically produced Pomalidomide may be around RMB 4,000 per box, while the Turkish version sold overseas may be priced around RMB 15,000 per box (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates), which is relatively expensive. There are also cheaper generic drugs produced in other countries overseas. The price of each box produced by a Lao pharmaceutical factory may be around a few hundred yuan (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The ingredients of foreign generic drugs, domestically produced drugs and foreign original drugs are basically the same. For more drug information and specific prices, please consult Yaode Medical Consultant.