US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has announced the first prescription of its third-generation ALK inhibitor Lorbrena (lorlatinib) in Guangdong province, China. This milestone marks the official market launch of the drug for Chinese non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, following its approval two months prior.
Drug Profile and Advantages
Lorbrena, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with a unique small molecule macrocyclic amide structure, demonstrates superior anti-tumor activity, intracranial penetration, and resistance to drug resistance compared to its competitors.
Regulatory Approval and Market Entry
The drug secured market approval in China in April of this year for use in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC as a monotherapy. Lorbrena obtained import approval in Hainan as a clinically urgent drug in July 2020 and was filed for marketing in China in March 2021.
Collaboration
In June 2021, Pfizer partnered with CStone Pharma to develop the product in Greater China.-Fineline Info & Tech
