Is Cabozantinib available in China?

Cabozantinib (Cabozantinib) is a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor and one of the important drugs in the field of international tumor targeted therapy in recent years. This drug blocks tumor angiogenesis and cancer cell metastasis by inhibiting signaling pathways such as VEGFR, MET, and AXL. It is one of the key drugs for the treatment of various solid tumors. Currently, cabozantinib has been approved for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and other cancer types in the United States, Europe, Japan and other countries.

However, in mainland China, the original drug cabozantinib has not been officially approved for marketing, so it is not yet available for direct purchase in domestic hospitals or pharmacies. If domestic patients need medication, they usually need to purchase the overseas version through cross-border medical services or Hong Kong’s specially approved pharmacy channels. Cabozantinib tablets currently available in Hong Kong have a relatively complete range of specifications, including20mg 30 tablets, 40mg 30 tablets and 60mg*30 tablets, etc., which belong to the original research brand Cabometyx. Prices fluctuate due to different specifications and exchange rates, and the overall price is higher.

Although the original drug has not yet been launched in mainland China, relevant domestic clinical research is already in the advancement stage, and some hospitals are participating in a number of international cooperative trials, which is expected to promote its approval in China in the future. In addition, as international drug access policies are gradually relaxed, Chinese patients can also apply for overseas drug imports through legal clinical use registration channels, thereby obtaining more timely treatment options.

At present, some overseas versions, such as Indian or Bangladeshi generic drugs, are already on the market. Their drug ingredients are basically the same as those of the original ones and the price is low. However, patients should pay special attention to the authenticity and legality of the source when choosing a channel, and be sure to follow the guidance of an oncologist before using it.

Overall, the prospect of cabozantinib in China is still positive. If it is included in medical insurance in the future, it will greatly improve the treatment accessibility for patients with advanced renal cancer, liver cancer and thyroid cancer.

Reference:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabozantinib