China-based CStone Pharmaceuticals (HKG: 2616) has announced a lower recommended price for its precision medicine drug Ayvakit (avapritinib) in an effort to alleviate the financial burden on patients and enhance drug accessibility. The new prices for the 100mg and 300mg versions of the drug are now set at RMB 17,207 (USD 2,498) and RMB 39,900 (USD 5,794), respectively.
Price Reduction Details and Comparison
According to Fineline Info & Tech data, the previous lowest provincial online procurement price for the 100mg specification was RMB 20,916 (USD 3,037), and the 300mg specification was priced at over RMB 48,000 (USD 6,970). This price reduction represents a significant step towards making Ayvakit more affordable for patients in need.
Ayvakit’s Background and Indications
Ayvakit is a KIT and PDGFRA-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor originally developed by Blueprint Medicines and licensed to CStone for development in mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, and Hong Kong in a 2018 deal. CStone secured the first approval for the drug in China in March 2021, indicated for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) harboring a PDGFRA exon 18 mutation.
Commercialization Efforts and Partnerships
To ensure the drug’s commercial success and patient access, CStone has partnered with industry associations and diagnostic companies. These collaborations are accompanied by extensive physician education campaigns to raise awareness and understanding of the targeted therapy. Additionally, CStone has worked to secure coverage for Ayvakit in city-level supplementary insurance schemes (Huiminbao schemes), further improving patient accessibility to this precision medicine.-Fineline Info & Tech
