US patients can now obtain Chinese-developed lung cancer pill Zegfrovy
The drug Zegfrovy, created by China's Dizal Pharmaceutical, has received U.S. market entry after FDA accelerated approval, ending a period when some Americans traveled to Shanghai to buy it.
Sunvozertinib, sold under the brand Zegfrovy, has become available to American patients after the FDA granted accelerated approval in July 2025 and the drug entered the U.S. market in October. Developed by Shanghai-based Dizal Pharmaceutical, the pill is indicated for adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR exon 20 insertions who have progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy. Before the U.S. launch, patients such as Max Doppelt traveled to Shanghai, bringing back dozens of boxes to treat his mother, Debbie Doppelt, whose disease has been controlled for over a year.
AstraZeneca secured worldwide licensing from Dizal in July, providing $600 million upfront and up to $900 million in milestone payments. The FDA cautions about safety risks of importing medicines, while the case underscores China’s growing role in early-stage drug development, now accounting for 32% of global programs compared with the U.S.’s 37%.
Why it matters
It shows a new treatment option for a hard-to-treat lung cancer mutation and signals China's rising influence in drug innovation.
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