Fruquintinib is an orally active, small-molecule targeted anticancer drug that selectively inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3), thereby preventing tumor angiogenesis and limiting cancer progression. It was developed to provide an effective treatment option for patients with advanced solid tumors, particularly metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) after failure of standard therapies. Fruquintinib was discovered and developed in China through collaboration between Hutchmed and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, and it received its first approval in China in 2018 for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Subsequently, it underwent global clinical evaluation and was approved in additional regions, including the United States in 2023 for previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer, expanding its role as a targeted therapy in oncology.
