How to purchase cimepilimab in China

Cemiplimab (Cemiplimab) has not yet been officially approved for marketing in mainland China. The drug was jointly developed by Sanofi and Regeneron. It is a fully humanized PD-1 monoclonal antibody that has been approved in the United States, Europe, Australia and other countries and regions. It is used to treat metastatic or locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high PD-L1 expression.

Although cimepilimab has been widely used internationally, it has not been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in mainland China, so it cannot be purchased through formal domestic channels. This means that patients cannot legally obtain the drug in domestic hospitals or pharmacies, nor can they reimburse related costs through national medical insurance.

For patients with urgent treatment needs, some may consider obtaining cimepilimab through overseas medical channels. This usually involves cross-border medical service organizations or overseas purchasing agents, but it should be noted that these approaches involve certain legal and security risks. When patients choose this method, they should ensure that the medicines they purchase come from regular sources and avoid buying fake and shoddy products. In addition, cross-border drug purchases may involve customs, transportation, storage and other issues, and patients need to carefully assess the related risks.

While waiting for cimepilimab to be launched in mainland China, patients can consult professional doctors to find out whether there are other approved PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors to choose from. Currently, a number of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have been approved in China and have been included in the medical insurance catalog, covering a variety of cancer types. Doctors can recommend the most appropriate treatment plan based on the patient's specific condition and genetic characteristics.

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