When was Erlotinib officially launched in China and its post-marketing applications?

Erlotinib was officially approved and launched in China around 2013. It is mainly used to treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pancreatic cancer. As an EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, erlotinib can effectively inhibit the proliferation of EGFR mutated tumor cells, thereby delaying disease progression and improving patients' quality of life. Since its launch, erlotinib has gradually become an important treatment option for EGFRpositiveNSCLC patients.

Erlotinib has shown good tolerability and efficacy in clinical applications after its launch. Domestic hospitals often use erlotinib as a first- or second-line targeted drug in the treatment of advanced lung cancer, especially for patients with EGFR mutations, which can achieve significant results. After using erlotinib, some patients can achieve disease stabilization or remission. Compared with chemotherapy drugs, the side effects are relatively controllable, such as rash and mild diarrhea, making it easier for patients to take it for a long time.

In terms of price and drug purchase channels, erlotinib has been included in China's medical insurance and can be purchased by patients at domestic pharmacies or hospital pharmacies. The domestic reference price is approximately a few hundred yuan per box. Due to regional differences in medical insurance reimbursement policies, patients need to consult their local hospital for specific reimbursement ratios and out-of-pocket amounts. At the same time, overseas markets also provide a choice of original drugs and generic drugs. Among them, the Lao version of generic drugs costs about 400 yuan, which is highly cost-effective and provides domestic patients with an alternative way to purchase drugs.

In general, erlotinib has been widely used after its launch in China, especially for EGFR mutation-positive patients. Its domestic medical insurance coverage and relatively reasonable prices make it more convenient for patients to obtain drugs. At the same time, the existence of overseas generic drugs also provides more choices for some self-pay patients. Overall clinical application shows that erlotinib has become one of the important drugs for targeted treatment of lung cancer in China.

Keyword tags:

Erlotinib, EGFR inhibitor, non-small cell lung cancer, launched in China, medical insurance, price, overseas generic drugs

Reference materials:https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/erlotinib