{
  "id": 16248659,
  "title": "Lung cancer drug some Americans fly to China to buy is now on sale in US",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/lung-cancer-drug-some-americans-fly-to-china-to-buy-is-now-on-sale-in",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-23T23:50:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "VnExpress International",
    "slug": "vnexpress-international",
    "url": "https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/lung-cancer-drug-some-americans-fly-to-china-to-buy-is-now-on-sale-in-us-5136031.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sunvozertinib, a lung cancer drug developed by a Chinese company, is now available to U.S. patients. The drug, known by the brand name Zegfrovy, gained accelerated FDA approval in July 2025 following a trial where 46% of patients responded positively. Developed by Shanghai-based Dizal Pharmaceutical, the drug is for adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors carry a specific genetic mutation and who have not responded to platinum-based chemotherapy.\n\nThe drug's availability in the U.S. came more than 15 months after the FDA's approval. It was initially approved by China's National Medical Products Administration in August 2023. The U.S. availability is a result of a licensing deal signed by AstraZeneca in July with Dizal, where AstraZeneca pays $600 million upfront with additional payments based on development, regulatory, and sales milestones, as well as royalties on sales.\n\nAn American family's story highlights the impact of this drug. Max Doppelt, whose mother has lung cancer, traveled to Shanghai to obtain the drug and has since helped at least 30 other Americans make similar trips. His mother, Debbie Doppelt, has benefited from the treatment, with her cancer largely held in check after 19 months. However, there are concerns about the safety and quality of medications obtained outside the U.S., as the FDA cautions about potential risks.",
  "summary": "AstraZeneca has begun selling a Chinese-developed lung cancer drug in the U.S. that some American patients had been flying to China to buy.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}