Ensartinib belongs to the first generation of ALK targeted therapy drugs

Ensartinib (trade name: Bemena) is a new type of ALK inhibitor and belongs to the second generation of ALK targeted therapy drugs. It was developed by Xcovery Holdings, a subsidiary of Betta Pharmaceuticals, and is mainly used to treat patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Compared with the first-generation ALK inhibitor crizotinib, ensartinib has better efficacy in treating drug-resistant mutations and brain metastases. Therefore, ensartinib is classified as a second-generation ALK inhibitor.

The mechanism of action of ensartinib is to selectively inhibitALK tyrosine kinase and block the downstream signaling pathways mediated by it, thereby inhibiting the proliferation and survival of tumor cells. In addition, ensartinib also has an inhibitory effect on MET receptor tyrosine kinase, which makes it also show potential in the treatment of certain MET mutation-related tumors. However, ensartinib is not a third-generation ALK inhibitor.

At present, ensartinib has been approved for marketing in China and has been included in the medical insurance directory, and patients can purchase it domestically. There are also cheaper imitation versions abroad, which sell for about four to five hundred yuan. However, third-generation ALK inhibitors such as lorlatinib (Lorlatinib) have stronger advantages in controlling brain metastasis. Therefore, when ensartinib is used to treat ALK-positive NSCLC, it still needs to be selected based on the patient's specific conditions.

In short, ensartinib is a second-generation ALK inhibitor with good efficacy and safety. However, with the emergence of third-generation ALK inhibitors, the clinical application of ensartinib may be affected to a certain extent. Therefore, when selecting ALK targeted therapy drugs, doctors need to comprehensively consider the patient's specific situation and choose the most appropriate treatment plan.

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