Date of submission of the HTAC Recommendation: 12 March 2026
Date of notification to HTAC on the SOH decision: 07 May 2026

The Secretary of Health (SOH) concurs with the final recommendation of the HTA Council on Erlotinib (25 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg film-coated tablet), Gefitinib (250 mg tablet and film-coated tablet), and Afatinib (20 mg, 30 mg, and 40 mg film-coated tablet) for the treatment of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through Department of Health (DOH) Department Circular No. 2026-0221 “Inclusion of Erlotinib (25 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg Film-Coated tablet), Gefitinib (250 mg tablet/film-coated tablet), and Afatinib (20 mg, 30 mg, and 40 mg film-coated tablet) in the Philippine National Drug Formulary Receptor for Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-positive Non-small Cell lung cancer (NSCLC)” published on 06 May 2026.

As a final recommendation, the HTA Council recommends the government financing of  (1) Erlotinib (25 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg film-coated tablet), (2) Gefitinib (250 mg tablet and film-coated tablet), and (3) Afatinib (20 mg, 30 mg, and 40 mg film-coated tablet)for first-line therapy of patients with EGFR-positive advanced or metastatic NSCLC. All three are recommended for EGFR exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R mutation. Additionally, Afatinib is preferred for EGFR S768I, L861Q, and/or G719X mutations, while Erlotinib and Gefitinib are other recommended options.

For further details, please refer to the documents below: