What is capmatinib?

Capmatinib (Capmatinib), sold under the trade name Tabrecta, is an anticancer drug used to treat metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), whose tumors have mutations that lead to skipping of exon 14 of the MET gene encoding the membrane receptor HGFR. Non-small cell lung cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in lung tissue. Cancer metastasis consists of a series of events, and MET exon 14 skipping is considered a key event in cancer metastasis. Mutations causing MET exon 14 skipping are found in 3-4% of lung cancer patients.

Capmatinib is a small molecule kinase inhibitor that targetsc-Met (also known as hepatocyte growth factor receptor [HGFR]), a receptor tyrosine kinase that activates signaling cascades involved in organ regeneration and tissue repair in healthy humans. The prevalence of methionine amplification has been reported to be 1.4%-21% in patients with previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer treated with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). This co-occurrence makes c-Met an ideal target in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. The most common adverse reactions were peripheral edema, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, dyspnea, and decreased appetite.

It is understood that the original drug capmatinib is not on the market in China and cannot be included in medical insurance. The price of the Hong Kong version of Specification200mg*60 per box is more than 30,000 yuan. The European version of the original drug sold overseas, specifications200mg*120, is priced at more than 50,000 yuan per box (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates), the price is very expensive. Cheaper generic capmatinib drugs are also sold overseas, and their drug ingredients are basically the same as those of the original drug. For example, the price of 200mg*56 tablets produced by a Laos pharmaceutical factory is more than 3,000 yuan per box (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates).