How much does domestically produced Erlotinib cost? Will medical insurance reimburse it?

Erlotinib (Erlotinib) is an oral targeted therapy drug that belongs to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) class of drugs. It is mainly used to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are positive for EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) mutations.

Erlotinib has been launched in China and has been included in medical insurance. Patients can purchase it domestically. The domestic price ranges from about 700 to 1,000. The specification is 150mg*7 tablets. Due to different medical insurance policies in different places, the price is also different. Please consult the local pharmacy or medical insurance bureau for details. Erlotinib abroad is mainly an Indian generic drug, with a price of about 900 yuan. The specifications are divided into 100mg*30 tablets and 150mg*30 tablets, which are about four times the domestic specifications, but the price is similar to that in China.

Erlotinib generally shows fewer toxic side effects than traditional chemotherapy because it acts more specifically on cancer cells and reduces damage to normal cells. However, some adverse reactions may still occur, such as skin reactions, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. These side effects need to be managed and controlled under a doctor's supervision.

The use of erlotinib usually requires a customized treatment plan based on the patient's genetic mutation to ensure the best efficacy. Doctors use molecular testing to determine whether a patient is a candidate for erlotinib, allowing them to decide on an individualized treatment strategy.

In short, erlotinib is a targeted therapy drug that interferes with the growth and spread of tumor cells by inhibiting the EGFR pathway. It is mainly used to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer who are positive for EGFR mutations. Although it usually has lower toxic side effects while improving therapeutic effects, patients still need to undergo treatment under the guidance of a doctor and closely monitor and manage possible adverse reactions.