Has pirtobrutinib been officially launched for use in China?

Pirtobrutinib is a new Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTK inhibitor), mainly used to treat certain types of Bcell lymphoma, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The drug has attracted attention from the international oncology community for its high selectivity and drug-resistant mutation coverage, and is especially suitable for patients who are resistant or intolerant to first-generation BTK inhibitors (such as ibrutinib). However, pitobrutinib has not yet been officially launched in China, and domestic patients cannot purchase it directly through hospitals or pharmacies for the time being.

As it has not yet been approved by China's State Food and Drug Administration, pitobrutinib has not yet entered the national medical insurance list. For patients with clinical needs, the only way to obtain the drug is through overseas medical channels or third-party agencies, which increases the difficulty of acquisition and the risk of use to a certain extent. Therefore, before considering using this drug, patients should fully communicate with their attending physician to understand the risks and benefits of taking the drug.

In terms of price, the original drug of pitobrutinib is very expensive. Taking the U.S. market as an example, the price of the original drug for 50 mg*30 tablets is as high as about RMB 10 yuan. For patients who need to take medicine for a long time, the financial burden is very heavy. Because of this, some patients with limited economic conditions will consider overseas generic versions. For example, the generic version of pitobrutinib produced by a Lao pharmaceutical factory costs only 2000 multiple yuan per box. The price is more affordable, and the drug ingredients are consistent with the original drug, making it the actual choice for many patients.

Generally speaking, although pitobrutinib has shown good efficacy prospects in international clinical treatments, because it has not yet been launched in China, patients still face certain obstacles in obtaining and using it. In the future, if the drug is approved domestically and enters the medical insurance system, its accessibility and economy will be greatly improved, and it will also provide more treatment possibilities for BTK-resistant patients.

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