Price of lorlatinib/lorlatinib targeted drug after entering into medical insurance

Lorlatinib/The original drug Lorlatinib ( Lorlatinib) was developed by Pfizer. It is currently officially launched in China under the name of "Lorlatinib Tablets" and is included in the National Medical Insurance Category B Directory. The implementation of the medical insurance reimbursement policy has greatly reduced the financial burden of patients with ALK-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Before it is included in medical insurance, the out-of-pocket price of lorlatinib is relatively high. The common specifications are 25 mg × 90 tablets or 100 mg × 30 tablets. Each box may be sold for as high as 40,000 to 50,000 yuan. After entering medical insurance, the out-of-pocket price for patients drops significantly depending on local reimbursement ratios and pharmacy purchasing channels.

Lorlatinib is included in medical insurance mainly for patients who still experience disease progression after treatment with previous generations of ALK inhibitors such as crizotinib and for patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastases. Due to its high penetration into the central system and its ability to target drug-resistant mutations, it has become one of the core drugs in current ALK target therapy. The success of medical insurance negotiations not only reflects the country’s policy orientation towards universal access to targeted drugs, but also allows more patients to afford this highly effective treatment option.

In addition, the price of multiple overseas versions of lorlatinib, such as in Europe, Japan and the United States, is still relatively high, with each box worth approximately more than RMB 10,000. Some countries have successively approved the listing of generic drugs to reduce the overall cost of treatment. In China, with the inclusion of original drugs in medical insurance and the stabilization of the supply system, drug accessibility has significantly improved, and patients no longer need to rely on overseas channels to purchase high-priced drugs.

Overall, the coverage of medical insurance policies makes lorlatinib one of the most cost-effective targeted drugs in the treatment of ALK-positive lung cancer in China. It also marks that my country's high-end targeted drugs are gradually becoming "affordable".

Reference materials：https://www.lorbrena.com/