What is Temozolomide?

Temozolomide is an alkylating agent used to treat severe brain cancer, most commonly as a second-line treatment for astrocytoma and as a first-line treatment for glioblastoma. Temozolomideis an imidazotetrazine prodrug that is stable at acidicpH but undergoes spontaneous non-enzymatic hydrolysis at neutral or slightly alkaline pH; these properties allow oral and intravenous administration and it is a universal drug, common side effects are nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, hair loss, headache, fatigue, convulsions, rash, neutropenia or lymphopenia (low white blood cell count) and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count).

Refractory anaplastic astrocytoma(WHO grade III) and glioblastoma multiforme (WHO grade IV) are primary malignant brain tumors with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Despite considerable genetic heterogeneity, these tumors often have compromised DNA repair systems, rendering them initially sensitive to alkylating agents, although they invariably develop resistance to alkylating agents over time. Temozolomide, administered as an adjuvant to radiotherapy followed by maintenance, remains the standard treatment for glioblastoma and refractory anaplastic astrocytoma.

The original drug temozolomide has been launched in China and has entered the scope of Class B medical insurance. Common specificationsThe price of 100mg*1 tablet*5 bags per box may be around 2,000 yuan. The price of generic temozolomide drugs marketed overseas is relatively low, and its pharmaceutical ingredients are basically the same as those of the original temozolomide drug. For example, the price of a box of 100mg*5 produced by a Bangladeshi pharmaceutical factory may be around a few hundred yuan (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates).