Is dotalizumab (Jemperli) available in China?

Dotalizumab (Jemperli) is an immunotherapy drug. Its main function is to enhance the immune system's attack on cancer cells by inhibiting the signaling pathway on the PD-1 (programmed death1) receptor. It is especially suitable for a specific type of ovarian cancer. The following will introduce in detail the mechanism of action, indications, side effects and importance of dotilizumab in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Dotalizumab is not currently on the market in China, and it is not included in medical insurance. Patients cannot purchase it domestically and need to purchase dotalizumab through overseas channels. There are only original drugs available abroad, mainly from the United States, and the price is as high as about 50,000 yuan.

Dotilizumab belongs to the class of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Its mechanism of action mainly focuses on the PD-1 pathway. PD-1 is an immune checkpoint receptor that exists on the surface of immune cells, such as T cells. Its main function is to prevent excessive immune responses to avoid immune system attacks on normal tissues. However, in some cases, cancer cells can exploit this mechanism to evade the immune system by overexpressing PD-L1, a ligand for PD-1. Dotalizumab works by preventing the binding of PD-1 and PD-L1, thereby lifting the inhibition of T cells, allowing the immune system to more effectively identify and eliminate cancer cells.

The primary indication for dotalizumab is the treatment of ovarian cancers with highly unstable microsatellite mismatches (dMMR) or deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR). This type of ovarian cancer often has extensive DNA damage and mutations, making it easier for the immune system to recognize and attack the cancer cells. Therefore, dotilizumab provides a new treatment option for these patients, especially when conventional treatments are ineffective or intolerable.