【New Year Start · Medical Insurance Safeguard】The inclusion of Vebreltinib for MET-amplified NSCLC indication in the medical insurance scheme officially takes effect today, marking a new level of accessibility for precision therapy!

New Year Dawns, Warm Blessings Arrive! Starting today (January 1, 2026), the newly updated 2025 National Reimbursement Drug List for Basic Medical Insurance, Maternity Insurance and Work-related Injury Insurance (hereinafter referred to as the National Reimbursement Drug List) has officially come into force. Vebreltinib Enteric-coated Capsules, hereinafter referred to as "Vebreltinib", a novel MET inhibitor developed by Beijing Pearl Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Beijing Avistone Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Avistone), has been successfully included in the scope of medical insurance reimbursement for its indication in the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) amplification^[1]. This brings the first ray of health hope to numerous patients in the new year!

As the only^① highly selective MET inhibitor in China currently covered by medical insurance for MET-amplified NSCLC^[1], the official implementation of Vebreltinib’s insurance reimbursement marks a new stage of higher accessibility and lighter financial burden for precision therapy in this patient population. The announcement of its inclusion in the National Reimbursement Drug List previously garnered widespread attention from the medical community and patient groups, and now its official enforcement has turned this long-awaited hope into reality.

In the field of NSCLC diagnosis and treatment, MET amplification is a well-established driver gene alteration. It is not only prevalent among newly diagnosed patients, but also constitutes one of the primary mechanisms of acquired resistance following EGFR-TKI therapy. Patients in this category often face the predicament of limited treatment options and poor prognosis^[2]. With its remarkable clinical benefits, Vebreltinib has brought survival hope to these patients. Data from its Phase Ⅱ clinical trial (KUNPENG) for the treatment of MET-amplified advanced non-small cell lung cancer (data cutoff: November 14, 2024)^[3] demonstrated that:

• Objective Response Rate (ORR): The ORR was 48.8% (95% CI: 38.3–59.4) in the total population (n=86). Specifically, the ORR was 43.3% (95% CI: 25.6–61.1) in the pretreated cohort (n=30) and as high as 51.8% (95% CI: 38.7–64.9) in the treatment-naive cohort (n=56).
• Disease Control Rate (DCR): The DCR was 77.9% (95% CI: 69.1–86.7) in the total population (n=86), 73.3% (95% CI: 57.5–89.2) in the pretreated cohort (n=30), and 80.4% (95% CI: 70.0–90.8) in the treatment-naive cohort (n=56).
• Median Duration of Response (mDoR): The median DoR reached 12.1 months (95% CI: 6.5–16.8) in the total population (n=86), 11.0 months (95% CI: 3.7–NE) in the pretreated cohort (n=30), and was consistent with the total population at 12.1 months (95% CI: 5.4–16.8) in the treatment-naive cohort (n=56).
• Incidence of Grade 3 or Higher Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TRAEs): Only 31.4% (n=86).
• Most Common TRAEs: Peripheral edema (44.2%) and hypoalbuminemia (33.7%), with most events being Grade 1 or 2.

Its inclusion in the medical insurance scheme will significantly reduce the long-term medication financial burden on patients, enabling more individuals with MET-amplified NSCLC to access this innovative domestic targeted therapy in a timely manner, and ensuring they no longer miss out on precision treatment opportunities due to cost constraints. This not only serves as a vivid reflection of the policy orientation of China’s national medical insurance system, which prioritizes basic healthcare protection and innovation promotion, but also stands as a key achievement of Avistone in practicing its patient-centric philosophy and helping to improve the accessibility of high-quality medical resources.

New Year, New Hope; Medical Insurance, Health Companion. Avistone will continue to deepen its efforts in the field of cancer precision therapy, repay society with more high-quality innovative drugs, and join hands with colleagues across the medical community to make active contributions to improving the quality of life of cancer patients in China and advancing the development of Healthy China.

 01  Warm Reminder

1. The medical insurance reimbursement for Vebreltinib in the indication of MET-amplified NSCLC will officially take effect as of January 1, 2026. For specific reimbursement policies and rates, please consult the local medical insurance authority or the medical insurance service counter of the attending hospital.
2. Before administration, patients must be evaluated by professional physicians with experience in cancer treatment to confirm compliance with the medication indications and medical insurance reimbursement criteria. Patients are also required to read the package insert carefully and strictly follow the doctor’s instructions for medication use.

 02  About Vebreltinib Enteric Capsules

Vebreltinib Enteric Capsules was conditionally approved in China in November 2023 for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring mesenchymal‑epithelial transition factor (MET) exon 14 skipping mutations. In April 2024, it obtained domestic approval for adult patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)‑mutant astrocytoma (WHO Grade 4) or glioblastoma with a history of lower‑grade glioma, who have failed prior therapy and harbor PTPRZ1‑MET fusion genes. On June 30, 2025, it received conditional approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC harboring MET amplification.Vebreltinib Enteric Capsules was conditionally approved in China in November 2023 for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring mesenchymal‑epithelial transition factor (MET) exon 14 skipping mutations. In April 2024, it obtained domestic approval for adult patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)‑mutant astrocytoma (WHO Grade 4) or glioblastoma with a history of lower‑grade glioma, who have failed prior therapy and harbor PTPRZ1‑MET fusion genes. On June 30, 2025, it received conditional approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC harboring MET amplification.Vebreltinib Enteric Capsules was conditionally approved in China in November 2023 for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring mesenchymal‑epithelial transition factor (MET) exon 14 skipping mutations. In April 2024, it obtained domestic approval for adult patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)‑mutant astrocytoma (WHO Grade 4) or glioblastoma with a history of lower‑grade glioma, who have failed prior therapy and harbor PTPRZ1‑MET fusion genes. On June 30, 2025, it received conditional approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC harboring MET amplification.Vebreltinib Enteric Capsules was conditionally approved in China in November 2023 for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET) exon 14 skipping mutations. In April 2024, it obtained domestic approval for adult patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant astrocytoma (WHO Grade 4) or glioblastoma with a history of lower grade glioma, who have failed prior therapy and harbor PTPRZ1 MET fusion genes. On June 30, 2025, it received conditional approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC harboring MET amplification^[4].

Notes

① "The only": According to the National Reimbursement Drug List for Basic Medical Insurance, Maternity Insurance and Work-related Injury Insurance and the Innovative Drug List for Commercial Health Insurance (2025) released by the National Healthcare Security Administration on December 7, 2025, Vebreltinib is the only MET TKI included in the medical insurance scheme for MET-amplified NSCLC.

References

[1] 国家医疗保障局 政策法规 国家医保局 人力资源社会保障部关于印发《国家基本医疗保险、生育保险和工伤保险药品目录》以及《商业健康保险创新药品目录》（2025年）的通知
[2] 中国老年保健协会肺癌专业委员会. MET异常NSCLC诊疗专家共识(2025版)[J]. 临床肿瘤学杂志, 2025, 30(4): 365-380.
[3] Wu Y-L, et al. Vebreltinib in MET amplification-driven advanced NSCLC (KUNPENG). Presented at ESMO Asia Congress 2025, Singapore, Dec 6, 2025. 
[4]  https://www.cde.org.cn/main/xxgk/listpage/9f9c74c73e0f8f56a8bfbc646055026d
 

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