A Chinese lung cancer drug is finally available in the U.S. after growing public pressure and reports of American patients traveling to China to access the treatment.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has begun selling Zegfrovy (sunvozertinib) in the United States, ending a prolonged availability gap that forced desperate American patients to fly to Shanghai to procure the treatment.

Originally developed by Shanghai-based Dizal Pharmaceutical, the targeted daily pill is designed for adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer carrying specific genetic mutations.

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to the medication in July 2025, commercial delays left families unable to access the drug domestically for over a year.

The commercial rollout in America comes after patient advocates and family members made headlines by traveling abroad to secure the medication, which had already been approved in China since 2023.

AstraZeneca acquired the global rights to develop and market the therapy in a high-profile licensing deal, signaling growing international reliance on Chinese biotech innovation. With the treatment now accessible in U.S. pharmacies, healthcare advocates hope the move will streamline future access to breakthrough therapies developed overseas.

source: Sethi, N. (2026). Chinese cancer drug on sale in US after Americans travel to buy it: ‘saved my mom’s life’. South China Morning Post.