Cabozantinib is an oral multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor developed by Exelixis, Inc. for the treatment of various advanced cancers. It inhibits several receptor tyrosine kinases, including MET, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, RET, AXL, and FLT3, thereby suppressing tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. The drug was discovered in the early 2000s as part of efforts to target both MET and VEGF signaling pathways, which play critical roles in cancer progression and resistance to therapy. Cabozantinib received orphan drug designation from the U.S. FDA in 2010 for medullary thyroid carcinoma and achieved its first FDA approval in 2012 under the brand name Cometriq for progressive metastatic medullary thyroid cancer. A tablet formulation, Cabometyx, was later approved in 2016 for advanced renal cell carcinoma and subsequently gained additional indications, including hepatocellular carcinoma (2019), differentiated thyroid cancer (2021), and neuroendocrine tumors (2025). Owing to its ability to target multiple oncogenic pathways simultaneously, cabozantinib has become an important therapeutic option in modern oncology and a significant advancement in targeted cancer treatment.
