Which formal channels can you buy Mitotane tablets in China?

Mitotane (Mitotane) is a rare but officially marketed anti-adrenocortical cancer drug in China. Although it has not yet been included in the national medical insurance catalog, it can be purchased through regular domestic hospital pharmacies or in-hospital drug channels. General oncology hospitals, endocrine oncology departments or oncology pharmacies of tertiary hospitals can order drugs. However, due to the small number of users and large inventory fluctuations, some hospitals may adopt an "on-demand allocation" model, and patients usually need to make an appointment in advance with a prescription. Some patients reported that hospitals in many places can obtain it through in-hospital registration and purchase, but they need to communicate with the attending doctor and the hospital's pharmacy department will purchase it uniformly.

In addition to hospital pharmacies, another relatively formal and traceable purchase method in China is the legally registered imported specialty drug service platform, which is usually provided by hospital cooperation or companies with drug import and export qualifications. Such channels can help patients purchase domestic versions of original drugs, and can also help order some overseas versions, but they must provide a prescription issued by a hospital. It is important to note that all formal platforms have drug regulatory filing information and imported drug traceability codes. Do not use channels that cannot verify the source to prevent the purchase of counterfeit drugs or drugs with unknown ingredients.

For patients who have difficulty purchasing mitotane due to insufficient regional supply, some hospitals will also prompt that they can order the European version or the Turkish version of the original drug through the formal cross-border medical supply chain (500mg*100 tablets, about 9000 RMB, fluctuating with exchange rates). Although overseas generic drugs (such as those produced in Laos, about 2000multiple/ boxes) are more affordable, they are not approved for marketing in China. Patients can only use them under the guidance of a doctor and through legal channels after completing personal import procedures. Be sure to avoid purchasing from informal channels such as the Internet and individual sellers to ensure drug quality and treatment safety.

Generally speaking, the current formal ways to obtain mitotane in China are still mainly tertiary hospital pharmacies and legal imported specialty drug platforms. Since the drug is highly toxic and requires strict monitoring of blood drug concentration and adrenal function, patients must undergo long-term follow-up and dose adjustment under the guidance of a specialist. The safety of the purchasing channel and the authenticity of the drug also affect the therapeutic effect. Therefore, when choosing a channel, priority should be given to formal medical institutions that are traceable and verifiable.

Keyword tags:

Mitotan, adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), domestic purchase, formal channels, hospital pharmacies, imported specialty drugs, generic drugs, safe drug purchase

Reference materials:https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Mitotane