Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc., a largest independent specialty pharmacy,  has announced that it is started dispensing Exelixis' limited-distribution treatment Cabometyx (cabozantinib) with an expanded indication.

Cabometyx was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a first-line therapy indicated to treat patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Cabometyx was initially approved as a second-line therapy for advanced RCC in 2016.

RCC is a type of cancer in which malignant cells form in the lining of tubules of the kidney. According to the American Cancer Society, RCC is the most common form of kidney cancer found in adults, accounting for nearly 90 percent of all kidney cancers.

"In supporting patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, we are pleased to offer Cabometyx as a new first-line treatment option," said Joel Saban, Diplomat president. "Cabometyx tablets offer an important new alternative for patients seeking therapy options in the first-line setting and beyond."

Cabometyx is manufactured by Exelixis, Inc.