New hope in the fight against cancer: The latest price of Cabozantinib is exposed, and the price gap between generic drugs has sparked heated discussion!

Recently, significant research progress has been reported in the field of liver cancer. At the 2025 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), researchers announced the long-term follow-up data of cabozantinib (Cabozantinib) in various advanced solid tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cancer, and thyroid cancer, further establishing its important position in the treatment of advanced cancer. Although the drug has not yet been approved for marketing in mainland China, due to its remarkable efficacy, it has become a standard treatment option in many countries around the world, especially in patients who have failed first-line or second-line treatments.

At the same time, as cabozantinib generic drugs are successively launched in Laos, Bangladesh and other places, the huge gap between the price of its "sky-high" original drug and the "people-friendly" generic drug has also aroused widespread concern among domestic patient groups. This article will focus on cabozantinib’s drug prices, differences in dosage forms, purchase channels, and indications to help patients make more rational and economical medication choices.

1. What is cabozantinib (Cabozantinib)? Please note that the two dosage forms have different uses

Cabotinib is an oral multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that can simultaneously inhibit MET, TKI Multiple oncogenic pathways, including span>VEGFR and AXL, exhibit dual mechanisms of anti-angiogenesis and anti-tumor growth in the treatment of various tumors. It was first developed by the American Exelixis company, with the trade names of Cabometyx (tablets) and Cometriq (capsules).

It should be particularly emphasized that cabozantinib is available in tablets and capsules, with different indications and cannot be mixed and substituted.

Cabometyx (tablets): Mainly used for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).

Cometriq (capsules): For use only in progressive, metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).

This distinction is extremely important because there are significant differences in the pharmacokinetics of drugs in different dosage forms, and arbitrary substitution may bring the risk of reduced efficacy or increased toxicity. Patients should clarify their own indications when purchasing and choose the corresponding dosage form under the guidance of a professional doctor.

2. Cabozantinib is not yet on the market in China, and formal purchase channels are limited

As of2025July , cabozantinib has not yet been approved by the National Food and Drug Administration (NMPA), cannot be purchased directly in pharmacies or hospitals in mainland China, and has not yet been included in the medical insurance catalog. This means that if patients need to use cabozantinib, they can only obtain the drug through regular overseas drug purchase channels or international medical intermediaries.

Since the original drugs are available in Europe, America, Japan, Hong Kong and other places, some overseas hospitals or overseas pharmacies provide purchasing services. However, limited by drug supervision, transportation cycle and price factors, there are still certain thresholds for obtaining original drugs.

Therefore, choosing a more cost-effective version of a generic drug has become a realistic option for more and more patients, especially when the treatment course is long or the financial ability is limited.

3. Price of original research drugs: starting from 20,000 yuan, up to more than 50,000 yuan per box

The price of cabozantinib’s original drug mainly varies based on region, specification and exchange rate changes. The following is the mainstream specifications and price information currently on the market:

European versionCabometyx 20mg*30Tablets: about RMB 45000yuan/box

Japanese versionCabometyx 20mg*30tablets: about 35000yuan/box

Hong Kong versionCabometyx 20mg*30tablets: about 50000yuan/box

Turkish versionCabometyx 20mg*30tablets: about 35000yuan/box

Note: The dosage required for different cancers may vary. For example, kidney cancer commonly uses 60mg once a day, but some patients may need to adjust to 40mg or 20mg, so there are also 40mg and 20mg specifications for sale, but the prices are slightly different.

Because cabozantinib has a long course of treatment and generally requires continuous medication for several months or even more than a year, the economic burden of treatment with the original drug alone is huge and almost unbearable for most families.

4. Price of generic drugs: The price of the Laos version and the Bangladeshi version is only one-tenth of the original drug

In order to solve the problem of drug accessibility, pharmaceutical companies in many countries have launched legal generic versions of cabozantinib and obtained registration approval from local governments. These generic drugs are highly consistent with the original drugs in terms of ingredients, dosage, and mechanism of action, and their prices are significantly lower, making them a highly cost-effective alternative.

The current specifications and prices of mainstream generic drugs are as follows:

Lao Lucius Edition 20mg*90Tablets (tablets) : about 800yuan/box

Laos Big Bear version 20mg*90tablets (capsule) : about 750yuan/box

Different brands, channels and exchange rate fluctuations will slightly affect the price, but the overall price is much lower than the original drug, basically controlled within a few hundred yuan, which is extremely cost-effective, and the drug ingredients are basically the same as the original drug.

5. What is the difference between original drugs and generic drugs? How do patients choose?

Although generic drugs are highly consistent with the original drugs in terms of ingredients, there are subtle differences in production standards, dissolution rates, stability, etc., especially in early generic products, the quality of some of them is uneven. With the advancement of generic technology, compliant pharmaceutical manufacturers in Laos and Bangladesh (such as Lucius, Yaobin, BDR, etc.) have reached international certification levels, and their products have been approved for marketing in many countries.

So, how should patients choose?

1.Patients suitable for the original drug:

Extremely high requirements for treatment effects, such as rapid tumor progression

Family economic conditions permit

Doctors recommend using original drugs first

Currently participating in clinical trials or requiring medical insurance registration for treatment

2.Patients suitable for generic drugs:

Long-term medication carries heavy financial burden

Unable to obtain original drugs through conventional channels

Treatment with the original drug was discontinued due to financial pressure.

No obvious risk of adverse reactions has been assessed

In short, which version to choose needs to be comprehensively considered based on the condition, doctor's advice and financial ability. However, generic drugs have opened the door to "affordable treatment" for many patients and are currently an important and realistic alternative.

6. Review of cabozantinib indications: precise treatment of multiple refractory cancers

While this article focuses on price, it is also important to understand the indications for the drug itself. Cabozantinib is currently approved by international drug regulatory agencies such as FDA and EMA for the treatment of the following cancers:

Advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC): first- or second-line treatment, especially for patients who have failed immunotherapy or other TKI treatments.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): second-line treatment, often used for patients who have failed sorafenib treatment.

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC): Cometriq capsules are designed for metastatic MTC.

In China, the drug options for late-stage treatment of these cancers are relatively limited. Therefore, cabozantinib, as a multi-target inhibitor, has a broad mechanism of action and a bright therapeutic prospect.

7. Purchasing Suggestions: Formal Channels+Doctor’s Guidance=Safety and Guarantee

Whether they choose original drugs or generic drugs, patients must purchase them through formal channels and do not trust personal purchasing agents, social media advertisements or "overseas drug groups". Formal purchase methods include:

1.Assist in purchasing medicine through the International Medical Center of a tertiary hospital

2. Cooperate with formal cross-border medical platforms (such as registered platforms)

3. Entrust relatives to go to Hong Kong, Japan and other places to purchase legally

4.Contact a certified overseas pharmacy

In addition, medication must be taken under the guidance of a professional doctor and avoid increasing or decreasing the dosage or changing dosage forms on your own, especially different dosage forms (tablets and capsules) cannot be used interchangeably.

Conclusion: We need to make a rational choice between efficacy and price

Cabozantinib undoubtedly brings new treatment hope to patients with advanced kidney cancer, liver cancer, etc., but the high price of the original drug is also prohibitive. Fortunately, the emergence of compliant generic drugs allows more patients to "afford to use, eat, and insist" on treatment.

In the future, as the domestic approval process advances, cabozantinib is expected to officially enter the Chinese market in the near future and gradually be included in the medical insurance system, truly realizing "drugs are accessible and affordable."

Prior to this, patients should be more vigilant about medication use, rationally choose formal channels and dosage forms and versions that suit them, and truly grasp the treatment opportunities of this "anti-cancer weapon".

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References:

1.Cabozantinib FDA Label

2.Exelixis Official Website - Cabometyx

3.2025 ASCOOfficial Report Summary