How to access Lorbrena from the UAE — the named-patient import pathway, 2026

By Reserve Meds · Clinical & regulatory team · Last reviewed 2026-04-23

A UAE patient diagnosed with ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may receive a prescription for Lorbrena (lorlatinib) from their treating medical oncologist, typically after progression on an earlier-generation ALK inhibitor such as alectinib or after detection of CNS metastases. Lorbrena is FDA-approved in the United States and is a standard option for ALK-positive NSCLC with strong CNS penetration. In the UAE, Lorbrena may not yet be routinely stocked for hospital-pharmacy dispensing across all emirates, which is why your oncologist may be coordinating a named-patient import pathway on your behalf.

This guide explains the legal pathway, what documentation your physician needs, typical timing and cost bands, and where Reserve Meds fits in.

The clinical situation

Lorbrena is a third-generation oral ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to overcome resistance mutations that arise on earlier ALK inhibitors and to cross the blood-brain barrier for CNS disease control. Eligibility requires molecular confirmation of an ALK rearrangement from tumour tissue or liquid biopsy. The manufacturer is Pfizer. Dosing is typically 100 mg orally once daily as continuous therapy, with monitoring for CNS effects (mood, cognition, sleep), hyperlipidaemia, and oedema. Your oncologist will confirm ALK status and sequencing against your overall treatment plan.

Is Lorbrena legally importable into the UAE?

Yes — through the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) named-patient import framework, with parallel coordination through the Department of Health Abu Dhabi where the administering physician is Abu Dhabi-licensed. The named-patient mechanism allows a UAE-licensed physician to request import of a medicine not locally registered when standard conditions are met.

The framework rests on four anchors: (a) the medicine is approved by a recognised reference authority (FDA qualifies), (b) no clinically equivalent locally registered alternative is suitable for the patient, (c) the treating physician takes clinical responsibility for use, and (d) the importing party documents chain of custody from the US source to the administering facility. The MOHAP Drug Department reviews each application; applications are typically filed by the hospital's importing pharmacy on the physician's behalf.

How the pathway works, step by step

1. Consultation with your treating oncologist. The decision to prescribe Lorbrena is clinical, based on ALK status, prior ALK-inhibitor history, and CNS disease burden. Your oncologist documents the rationale.
2. Administering facility identification. A UAE tertiary oncology centre with an importing pharmacy files on behalf of the physician.
3. MOHAP named-patient application. Your physician or the hospital's importing pharmacy files an application with MOHAP including clinical rationale, patient identifier, product details, and chain-of-custody plan.
4. US-side sourcing. Reserve Meds coordinates with our US-licensed specialty wholesale partner to secure product from the manufacturer's authorised distribution chain under DSCSA.
5. Temperature-controlled shipment. Lorbrena is a stable oral tablet; shipments travel with tamper-evident packaging and end-to-end customs and chain-of-custody documentation.
6. Arrival and dispensing support. Your oncologist remains the treating clinician. Reserve Meds coordinates re-supply ahead of cycle end to avoid treatment gaps.

What documentation your physician needs

Your physician will typically need to provide:

• A clinical rationale letter confirming ALK status, prior therapies, and Lorbrena as the indicated treatment
• Verification of their UAE medical licence (MOHAP or DOH Abu Dhabi)
• A current prescription naming the product, strength, and quantity
• Patient identifier (anonymised reference preferred)
• The planned treatment cadence (continuous daily therapy with monthly re-supply)

Reserve Meds provides a physician documentation kit bundling the templates MOHAP reviewers expect to see for oncology oral therapies under named-patient import.

Costs and timing

Lorbrena's US cash-pay reference price for a 30-day supply sits in an indicative 2026 range of roughly USD 21,000–24,000. Logistics, MOHAP documentation handling, and concierge coordination add incremental cost; Reserve Meds issues a full transparent quote at the start of intake.

Indicative timing — not guaranteed — for first shipment arrival after cohort intake opens is approximately 14–28 days from the moment a complete MOHAP application is submitted. Subsequent re-supply cycles are generally faster once the pathway is established.

Reserve Meds is in pre-launch. Fulfillment availability is limited to our first cohort, and all timelines published on this site are indicative. If your clinical situation is time-sensitive, flag that when you join the waitlist — we triage accordingly.

Reserve Meds's role

Reserve Meds is a US-based concierge coordinator for cross-border specialty medicine. For Lorbrena specifically, we provide:

• Sourcing. Through our US-licensed specialty wholesale partner, operating under DSCSA chain-of-custody.
• Documentation. Regulatory documentation package for your physician and for MOHAP review.
• Logistics. Temperature-stable shipment and chain-of-custody coordination.
• Concierge case lead. A named point of contact for your family and your physician throughout the process.

What we do not do: we are not the prescriber, we do not practise medicine, and we are not the dispensing pharmacy. All clinical decisions remain with your treating oncologist. We operate on a waitlist basis during our pre-launch phase.

Frequently asked

Is this legal in the UAE? Yes, when executed through the MOHAP named-patient framework with appropriate documentation. The pathway has been used across oncology for many years. See our trust and compliance page.

What if my oncologist has not done this before? Named-patient import is an institutional process your oncologist's hospital will have encountered, even if the individual physician has not. Our documentation kit closes the gap for first-time applicants.

What about CNS side effects? Lorbrena can cause mood, cognition, and sleep changes. Your oncologist and family should discuss a monitoring plan before starting. Reserve Meds does not provide clinical advice; we coordinate supply, not treatment.

Will private insurance cover this? Cash-pay is the default. Some UAE private insurers reimburse named-patient imports on case-by-case approval; we supply documentation for your submission but do not process insurance claims directly.

Next step — join the first-cohort waitlist

Reserve Meds is opening to a limited first cohort in 2026. Add your case to the waitlist and our concierge case lead will reach out when we are ready to enter intake for Lorbrena coordination in the UAE.

> Examples and timings above are composite illustrations drawn from published sources and typical named-patient patterns. Your individual case is assessed by your physician and our clinical-regulatory team; Reserve Meds does not guarantee outcomes or timelines.

Clinical & regulatory review: Reserve Meds clinical team and AI regulatory-counsel review pipeline. Last medically reviewed: 2026-04-23.