Innovative Drugs
China-Originated Immunotherapy (PD-1 / Bispecifics)
FDA / NMPA approved · Significantly lower cost
Typical Duration
Cycles every 2–3 weeks, long-term
Estimated Cost
Domestic PD-1 ≈1/10 of overseas annual cost
Domestic PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors dropped sharply after reimbursement negotiations (roughly CNY 30,000–70,000 per year; international patients self-pay per hospital pharmacy rates). Imported agents follow published hospital prices.
Why China
China-Originated Immunotherapy (PD-1 / Bispecifics)
01Domestic PD-1 inhibitors reshaped the global landscape
Domestic PD-1 inhibitors such as tislelizumab, sintilimab and toripalimab set evidence-based standards in cancers prevalent in China — esophageal, nasopharyngeal and liver cancer — and have successively gained Western approvals.
02Global leadership in bispecific antibodies
Ivonescimab (PD-1×VEGF) drew worldwide attention by beating pembrolizumab head-to-head; cadonilimab (PD-1×CTLA-4) is the world’s first dual-checkpoint bispecific in oncology, first approved in cervical cancer.
03Deep evidence base for combinations
Chinese investigators led pivotal phase III studies of immunochemotherapy, immuno-antiangiogenic and dual-immunotherapy combinations that changed international guidelines in esophageal, liver and non-small-cell lung cancers.
04Outstanding cost accessibility
Reimbursement negotiations brought annual domestic PD-1 costs to about one-tenth of international peers, making long-term maintenance immunotherapy economically sustainable.
Care Journey
01
Case Review
Submit your records and imaging; receive a written expert assessment and preliminary plan within 48 hours.
02
Plan & Estimate
A multidisciplinary team (MDT) defines your individualized treatment plan with a transparent cost estimate.
03
Travel Preparation
We assist with medical visa, flights and accommodation, and assign a professional medical interpreter.
04
In-Hospital Care
A dedicated coordinator accompanies you through examinations and treatment, bridging all communication.
05
Recovery & Follow-up
Remote follow-up after you return home, with review schedules and medication guidance.
06
Long-term Management
Stay connected with your treating team, with fast-track return visits whenever needed.
Medical Team
Hospitals
Cancer Hospital, CAMS (National Cancer Center)
Beijing · Grade III-A · National Cancer Center
Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Guangzhou · Grade III-A · Host of State Key Laboratory
Peking University Cancer Hospital
Beijing · Grade III-A · MOE Key Laboratory
Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center
Shanghai · Grade III Specialty · National Particle Therapy Flagship
Frequently Asked Questions
Is domestic PD-1 as effective as imported?+
Several domestic PD-1 agents have demonstrated equivalent or superior efficacy in phase III head-to-head or controlled studies against international standards (e.g. ivonescimab vs pembrolizumab in HARMONi-2), and have passed Western regulatory review. Choice should be based on tumor type, evidence and physician assessment — not origin.
Do I need PD-L1 testing first?+
It depends on tumor type and regimen. Some indications (e.g. certain first-line monotherapy in lung cancer) require PD-L1 thresholds; most combinations in esophageal or liver cancer do not. MSI-H/dMMR and TMB are also important references. Major centers perform IHC and molecular testing quickly.
Are immune-related adverse events dangerous?+
irAEs can affect skin, bowel, endocrine glands, liver and lungs; most are grade 1–2 and controlled by withholding treatment plus steroids, while grade 3–4 events are uncommon but need prompt care. Major centers have graded management pathways and multidisciplinary support; during therapy we help set up symptom monitoring and rapid-access care channels.
Can I travel home between cycles?+
Yes. Immunotherapy is given intravenously every 2–3 weeks, and you may travel home between cycles and return for scheduled dosing. An alternative model is completing the first 2–4 cycles in China, then continuing the stabilized regimen at a local hospital with your home physician’s cooperation.
How long does immunotherapy last?+
For most advanced tumors, maintenance immunotherapy runs up to about two years; selected patients achieving complete response may stop earlier after evaluation. Perioperative (neoadjuvant/adjuvant) settings use fixed cycle numbers. The treating physician determines duration based on response and tolerance.
Detailed Information
Drug landscape and combination strategies
China has approved more than ten PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors covering lung, esophageal, gastric, liver and nasopharyngeal cancers, with bispecifics (ivonescimab, cadonilimab) opening the next generation. Combination strategies: immuno-chemotherapy forms the first-line backbone for most squamous and adenocarcinomas, immuno-antiangiogenic therapy is standard in liver cancer, and dual immunotherapy is precisely applied in select tumors.
Candidates and biomarkers
Biomarker-guided selection: PD-L1 expression (TPS/CPS) informs monotherapy or combination decisions in lung and gastric cancers; MSI-H/dMMR is a strong pan-tumor predictor of immunotherapy benefit; TMB and EBV status (nasopharyngeal cancer) serve as supportive references. Major centers offer complete testing with MDT interpretation.
Managing immune-related adverse events
irAEs typically appear weeks to months after starting therapy, commonly as rash, thyroid dysfunction, hepatitis, colitis or pneumonitis. Management principles: grade 1 — continue with monitoring; grade 2 — withhold plus oral steroids; grade 3–4 — hospitalize with IV steroids and additional immunosuppressants when needed. Major centers run irAE MDTs with 24-hour emergency access; during treatment we set up symptom diaries and rapid-report mechanisms for patients.
Response assessment and long-term follow-up
Response is assessed with iRECIST, guarding against pseudoprogression (initial enlargement followed by shrinkage) and hyperprogression; imaging every 6–9 weeks combined with symptoms and tumor markers. Long-term follow-up watches for delayed irAEs (e.g. endocrine insufficiency requiring lifelong replacement) and quality of life. After returning home we help establish joint follow-up and remote data relay.
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