What are the differences between domestically produced and imported Nintedanib, and which one to choose?

Nintedanib (Nintedanib) is a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor primarily used to treat specific types of lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and interstitial lung disease associated with other diseases. Since its launch on the international market, nintedanib has become an important drug in the treatment of such diseases. According to China's drug policy, the original drug of nintedanib has been approved and introduced to the market, and a corresponding domestic version is also available in China, providing more choices. So, what are the differences between domestically produced and imported nintedanib, and how should patients choose?

Whether it is the imported drug Vigat (Ofev) or the domestic version, the active ingredient in both is nintedanib, and their therapeutic mechanisms are exactly the same. Nintedanib inhibits multiple tyrosine kinases and prevents the progression of fibrosis, thereby slowing down the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Studies have shown that nintedanib has significant therapeutic effects on IPF and other types of pulmonary fibrosis. Whether it is an original drug or a domestic drug, there is not much difference in treatment options and effects.

However, the difference in manufacturer is an important difference between the two. The original drug Vegat is produced by the famous German pharmaceutical company Boehringer (Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany), while the domestic version is usually produced by different domestic pharmaceutical companies. This means that although the ingredients are the same, differences in production processes, quality control standards and production locations may produce some differences in the stability, production cost and availability of the drug.

In terms of price, the difference between imported drugs and domestic drugs is also quite obvious. Due to higher production and import costs, the price of imported nintedanib is usually much higher than that of domestically produced drugs. The market price of the original drug Vegat is generally high, which makes some patients face a greater financial burden. In comparison, domestically produced nintedanib usually has a more competitive price, and the financial burden on patients is relatively light. According to the national medical insurance policy, domestically produced nintedanib may also be reimbursed by medical insurance, while imported drugs usually have to bear part of the cost themselves in certain circumstances, such as for patients who do not meet the indications.

Reference materials:https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB09079