Recently, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH) has introduced two new anticancer drugs through "Hong Kong and Macao Medicine and Equipment Connect" policy of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), which is good news to the Chinese mainland patients suffering from intractable cancers.
"Entrectinib" and "Iorlatinib" are both relatively new anticancer drugs approved worldwide and are not yet available on the Chinese mainland market.
"Entrectini", approved by FDA in August, 2019, is the third anticancer drug in the world that applies to almost all types of cancers, and is used on neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) fusion-positive tumors, ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), or when the cancer is locally advanced or has already spread after initial treatment.
"Iorlatinib" is so far, the only third-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor with approval. It is aimed at patients with ALK-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Featuring high effectiveness, selectivity, great brain infiltration, it is expected to prolong lives of patients.
Prof. Anne Lee, Chief of Service for the Center of Clinical Oncology at HKU-SZH, said that "Entrectinib" represents the transformation from traditional therapy to gene therapy, and "Iorlatinib" brings hope to those with cancers that were previously incurable.
Background:
The "Hong Kong and Macao Medicine and Equipment Connect" policy states that the imported medicines and equipment should be already in the markets and used in public hospitals in Hong Kong and Macao and are urgently needed for clinical use on the mainland.
Currently, a total of 9 drugs and 2 devices have been approved in HKU-SZH, which have been or will be put into clinical use.
Authot: Ray (intern)
Editor: Will, Jerry
