Where can I buy Napavir sodium (Sunlenca) in China?

Since Lenapavir sodium/Sunlenca (Sunlenca) was approved for marketing in the United States at the end of 2022, it has quickly become a research hotspot in the field of global HIV (AIDS) treatment due to its breakthrough mechanism of action and the characteristics of being administered once every six months. In China, the drug has been introduced under the trade name "Salanka", but due to its short time on the market, its clinical application coverage is currently limited.

From the perspective of supply channels, lenapavir sodium is currently mainly provided through tertiary hospitals in large cities and some infectious disease specialist institutions. These institutions usually have qualifications for the introduction and use of international drugs and can provide medication opportunities to appropriate patients in clinical practice.

In the medication process, patients usually need to undergo strict screening, including virological testing, drug resistance spectrum analysis, and medical history assessment. Doctors will decide whether it is appropriate to use lenapavir sodium based on the patient's past treatment and current virological status. Since the drug is a long-acting injection and is administered once every six months, patients need to complete the injection in a professional medical institution and cannot operate it on their own. Tablets are also available as supplementary forms from hospital pharmacies.

The current reality is that although the drug has been launched in China, the supply is still relatively limited and it is difficult for ordinary pharmacies to purchase it directly. Most patients need to make an appointment with a doctor or obtain it through clinical pilot channels. Some international cooperation projects will also be carried out in China, and patients who meet the conditions can get medication opportunities in these projects.

In the future, as the drug gradually enters the medical insurance catalog or is included in government procurement channels, its accessibility is expected to increase. China has maintained a relatively fast introduction rate in popularizing anti-AIDS drugs. Therefore, in the next few years, the use of lenapavir sodium may gradually expand to more secondary and above hospitals and even grassroots prevention and control centers. But for now, the most realistic way for patients to obtain treatment is to consult directly with the local infectious disease specialist hospital to confirm whether lenapavir sodium injection can be performed.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/sunlenca.html