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Axitinib is a selective VEGF-receptor pill, now given mainly with pembrolizumab or avelumab as first-line kidney cancer treatment.
Axitinib is a potent, selective inhibitor of VEGFR1-3 that blocks the angiogenic signalling clear-cell kidney cancers depend on. In AXIS (2011) it gave PFS 6.7 versus 4.7 months against sorafenib in second line, earning approval in 2012. Its main use now is first line in combination: it was the partner in KEYNOTE-426 with pembrolizumab, which improved OS against sunitinib (final medians 47.2 versus 40.8 months; PFS 15.7 versus 11.1 months), and in JAVELIN Renal 101 with avelumab, which improved PFS. Dosing starts at 5 mg twice daily and is titrated to 7 then 10 mg if blood pressure allows; its short half-life permits titration and rapid washout, which helps distinguish immune hepatitis from TKI hepatitis. Diarrhoea (55%) and hypertension (40%) are the common effects. Axitinib is the anti-angiogenic pill most often paired with immunotherapy at the start of kidney cancer treatment.
Potent selective VEGFR1-3 inhibitor. Connects to VEGF / VEGFR.
1.Oral, twice-daily dosing with short half-life
Oral, self-administered, so it is a Part D drug: covered through a stand-alone Part D plan or Medicare Advantage drug benefit, usually on the specialty tier with 25 to 33% coinsurance until the annual cap ($2,000 in 2025, $2,100 in 2026). Generic axitinib entered in 2025.
Covered for FDA-labelled and NCCN-listed uses, but almost always behind prior authorisation confirming diagnosis, biomarker and line of therapy; dispensed through a specialty pharmacy. Usually paired with pembrolizumab or avelumab (Part B).
Part D out-of-pocket capped at $2,000 (2025) / $2,100 (2026). Medicare patients cannot use manufacturer co-pay cards; charity funds (PAN, HealthWell, CancerCare) and the Extra Help subsidy are the routes.
Sources: Medicare.gov: Drug coverage (Part D) · Medicare.gov: Costs for Medicare drug coverage (annual out-of-pocket cap). Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.
Sources: NICE TA333 · SMC advice: axitinib. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.
| Region | Year | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| US | 2012 | Advanced RCC after one prior systemic therapy |
| US | 2019 | First-line advanced RCC with pembrolizumab or avelumab |
| Adverse event | Any grade | Grade 3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Hypertension | 40% | - |
| Diarrhoea | 55% | - |
| Fatigue | 40% | - |
| Dysphonia | 30% | - |
| Hand-foot syndrome | 28% | - |
Events listed without rates were not read from a primary source; see the label. Blank cells mean the figure was not sourced, not that it is zero.
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Query for this drug: (TITLE:"Axitinib" OR ABSTRACT:"Axitinib" OR TITLE:"Inlyta" OR ABSTRACT:"Inlyta") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Axitinib, not a curated reading list.
Shares Renal cell carcinoma (KEGG map), The angiogenic switch & tumour vessels, Clear cell renal cell carcinoma, VEGF / VEGFR.
Shares KEYNOTE-426, VEGF / VEGFR, Anti-angiogenic therapy, Renal cell carcinoma.
Shares IMDC risk → first-line regimen choice (RCC), KEYNOTE-426, Renal cell carcinoma.
Shares The angiogenic switch & tumour vessels, VEGF / VEGFR, Anti-angiogenic therapy, Renal cell carcinoma.
Shares Clear cell renal cell carcinoma, Anti-angiogenic therapy, Renal cell carcinoma, Small-molecule kinase inhibitors.
Shares KEYNOTE-426: pembrolizumab plus axitinib versus sunitinib for advanced renal cell carcinoma, KEYNOTE-426, Renal cell carcinoma (KEGG map), The angiogenic switch & tumour vessels.
Shares Clear cell renal cell carcinoma, Anti-angiogenic therapy, Renal cell carcinoma, Small-molecule kinase inhibitors.
Shares Clear cell renal cell carcinoma, Anti-angiogenic therapy, Renal cell carcinoma, Small-molecule kinase inhibitors.