Your Health, We Care
Release date: 2025-03-27 10:21:19 Recommended: 54
The development of targeted therapy for lung cancer has brought more hope to patients, and the price and accessibility of crizotinib as a key drug have attracted much attention.
In 2025, the price of crizotinib will vary significantly across channels and geographies.
The domestic specification of 250mg*60 capsules of crizotinib was 10,296 yuan before medical insurance, and the individual payment of patients after medical insurance dropped to about 3,706.56 yuan. In some areas, after reimbursement through medical insurance, the actual payment amount may be further reduced to about 2,600 yuan. The price of the same specification product in overseas markets such as India is about 1,600 yuan, which attracts some patients to choose to purchase drugs across borders.
Since the inclusion of crizotinib in the China Medical Insurance Category B Catalogue, the reimbursement ratio is generally between 50% and 70%. Some cities have further increased the reimbursement amount through local supplementary policies, for example, the out-of-pocket rate of patients in some large cities can be reduced to less than 30%. The implementation of the medical insurance policy has significantly reduced the economic pressure of long-term drug use, especially for patients with advanced lung cancer who need continuous treatment.
The price difference is mainly due to the source of the drug and the cost of the supply chain. Domestic medical insurance negotiations have reduced the profit margins of pharmaceutical companies through centralized procurement, while generic drugs in India and other places have formed a price advantage due to lower production costs. Patients should be aware that there are channel risks and uncertainties in the efficacy of overseas drug purchases, and the quality of drugs should be ensured through formal institutions.
The research on the efficacy and drug resistance mechanism of crizotinib has been deepened, which has promoted the progress of precision treatment of lung cancer.
Crizotinib is the world's first targeted drug targeting ALK and ROS1 gene mutations, blocking cancer cell signaling pathways by inhibiting tyrosine kinase activity. Clinical data showed that the 5-year survival rate of ALK-positive patients was more than 64%, and the median overall survival (OS) was 89.6 months, while the median progression-free survival (mPFS) of ROS1-positive patients was 23 months and the median OS was 51.4 months.
Although crizotinib may be resistant after about one year of treatment, the marketing of second- and third-generation ALK inhibitors (e.g., lorlatinib, entrectinib) provides a follow-up option for drug-resistant patients. Studies have shown that sequential use of drugs between generations can significantly prolong survival, with some patients having an overall survival of more than 5 years.
Future research will focus on optimizing drug regimens and expanding indications. For example, combination drug strategies for patients with brain metastases, individualized treatment for patients with rare ROS1 mutations, etc. At the same time, the popularization of genetic testing technology will help more patients be matched with targeted therapy and improve the overall efficacy.
The price adjustment and improved efficacy of crizotinib mark the beginning of an affordable and precise era for lung cancer treatment. When choosing a drug, patients need to combine medical insurance policies, financial capacity and treatment needs, and pay attention to alternatives after drug resistance. The continuous optimization of medical policies and scientific research progress will further improve the quality of life and long-term prognosis of lung cancer patients.
