What is the domestic supply situation of pemetinib/pemetinib? Out of stock?

Pemigatinib, as a targeted therapy, has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) carrying FGFR2 gene rearrangements. The launch of this drug has brought new treatment options to domestic patients with cholangiocarcinoma, especially those for whom traditional chemotherapy is ineffective. However, while drugs are approved and on the market, their supply is not entirely stable.

First, the supply of pemetinib in the Chinese market is closely related to the demand for the drug. Although the drug is already available in some hospitals and drug distributors, market demand is relatively small because it mainly targets cholangiocarcinoma patients with specific genetic mutations. This special indication group results in a small market demand for pemetinib. As a result, some regions and hospitals may experience drug shortages, especially if patient volume increases or special treatments are required.

In addition to fluctuations in patient demand, the reasons for drug shortages also involve multiple factors such as the supply chain, transportation and distribution of imported drugs. Since pemetinib is an imported drug, its supply depends on the stability of import channels and logistics systems, which is one of the reasons why some regions may be out of stock. Especially when patients are being treated intensively, the hospital may need to deploy multiple channels to ensure the supply of drugs, which also increases the risk of shortages.

To address this problem, some patients may choose to purchase pemetinib through international pharmaceutical agents or generic drug channels. Although the price of the original version of the drug is higher, some patients purchase generic drugs through overseas drug platforms or channels, and the price may be significantly reduced. Generic drugs usually have the same ingredients as the brand-name drugs, but are more affordable due to lower production costs. The price of generic pemetinib drugs produced in foreign markets, especially India and some Southeast Asian countries, is relatively low, providing patients with more choices.

Reference materials:https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB15102