Last Updated: July 2026
Published by: Orio Pharma — a specialist oncology medicine supplier serving patients, pharmacies, and distributors worldwide.
Medical Review: Reviewed by Dr. Nusrat Jahan, MBBS, MD (Medical Oncology)
Content Basis: This article is based on official prescribing information, product monographs, and regulatory product documentation from the FDA, EMA, and DGDA (Directorate General of Drug Administration, Bangladesh).
Sources: DrugBank — Oxaliplatin, drugs.com, accessdata.fda.gov, drugs.com, drugs.com
Key Takeaways
- Oxaliplatin (Oxator) is a platinum-based alkylating agent approved for two indications: adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer following complete tumor resection, and treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.
- Oxator is manufactured by Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Ltd in Bangladesh and is available in two vial strengths — 50 mg and 100 mg — both as powder for solution for intravenous use.
- Oxaliplatin is not used as a standalone agent; it is administered in combination with infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFOX), with treatment duration and course determined by the treating physician according to indication.
- The most frequently encountered side effect is peripheral neuropathy, while serious risks include anaphylactic reactions, pulmonary toxicity, and hepatotoxicity, all requiring clinical monitoring and preparedness.
- Products intended for the Saudi Arabian market must meet SFDA registration and importation requirements; buyers across the broader Middle East should verify applicable national regulatory requirements before procurement.
- Both vial strengths of Oxator are available for bulk institutional orders, making it suitable for hospital pharmacies, licensed importers, and government tender programs across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
What Is Oxaliplatin and What Is It Used For?
Oxaliplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent classified as an alkylating agent. It is used in the systemic treatment of colorectal malignancies and remains a cornerstone of modern oncology protocols for this disease category. Clinicians and procurement professionals will recognize oxaliplatin as a well-established cytotoxic compound with two distinct approved indications, supported by more than two decades of clinical evidence since its FDA approval in 2002.
The first approved indication is the adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer in patients who have undergone complete resection of the primary tumor. In this setting, oxaliplatin is administered post-surgically to reduce the risk of disease recurrence. The second approved indication is the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer, where it is used in the metastatic or unresectable disease setting to control tumor progression.
Both indications position oxaliplatin as a critical component of institutional oncology formularies. Hospital pharmacies, government health authorities, and licensed importers across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East region consistently require reliable access to this agent. Understanding its therapeutic role is essential for procurement officers managing oncology drug supply chains and ensuring uninterrupted treatment availability for patients with colorectal cancer.
How Oxaliplatin Works: Mechanism of Action
Oxaliplatin belongs to the platinum-based alkylating agent class of cytotoxic drugs — a classification that distinguishes it mechanistically from the antimetabolites and topoisomerase inhibitors also used in colorectal cancer regimens. Understanding this mechanism is relevant for clinical pharmacists and procurement specialists evaluating therapeutic equivalence within institutional formularies.
Following intravenous administration, oxaliplatin undergoes nonenzymatic conversion to active platinum derivatives. These reactive species form inter- and intrastrand Pt-DNA crosslinks within tumor cell nuclei. By physically bridging DNA strands, the crosslinks block the enzymatic machinery responsible for DNA replication and transcription; when cancer cells can no longer replicate their genetic material, cell division halts and cytotoxicity results.
A key pharmacological characteristic is that this cytotoxic activity is cell-cycle nonspecific — oxaliplatin exerts its effect regardless of the phase of the cell cycle a tumor cell occupies at the time of exposure. This property contributes to its broad activity against colorectal tumor cells and supports its use in combination regimens. For readers interested in the wider treatment landscape, understanding the role of targeted therapy in cancer treatment offers useful context on how cytotoxic and targeted agents complement each other in modern oncology.
Product Overview: Oxator by Eskayef Pharmaceuticals
Oxator is the brand name under which oxaliplatin is manufactured and supplied by Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Bangladesh). This Bangladeshi-manufactured product is available in two vial strengths designed to accommodate the flexibility required in clinical oncology practice: oxaliplatin 50 mg and oxaliplatin 100 mg, both presented as powder for solution for intravenous use.
Each vial is a lyophilized (dry) powder that requires reconstitution before use. According to the official product data, the 50 mg vial is reconstituted with 10 mL of appropriate diluent and the 100 mg vial with 20 mL, yielding a uniform concentration of 5 mg/mL in both cases. This standardized concentration simplifies preparation protocols for hospital pharmacy teams. The reconstituted solution must then be further diluted before intravenous administration — a critical preparation step that clinical pharmacists must observe.
Oxator is supplied exclusively for intravenous use and is not available in oral tablet form. Both the 50 mg and 100 mg presentations are available for bulk institutional orders, giving hospitals and oncology centers flexibility to match patient volume and formulary requirements across the Saudi Arabian and Middle Eastern markets.
Clinical Administration and Key Prescribing Facts
Oxaliplatin (Oxator) is not administered as a standalone agent. It is used in combination with infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin — a combination commonly referred to in oncology practice as FOLFOX. This combination-therapy structure is a defining feature of oxaliplatin-based treatment and has direct implications for pharmacy inventory planning, since institutional buyers must coordinate oxaliplatin supply alongside the companion agents used within the same regimen.
Treatment duration differs depending on the clinical indication and is determined by the treating physician in accordance with the official prescribing information. In the adjuvant setting following complete resection of stage III colon cancer, therapy follows a defined post-surgical treatment course. For patients receiving oxaliplatin for advanced colorectal cancer, treatment continues until disease progression or the development of unacceptable toxicity, making supply continuity particularly important in this population.
Oxator is administered exclusively via the intravenous route. The reconstituted solution must be further diluted in an appropriate infusion vehicle before administration, and preparation must adhere strictly to the instructions in the official prescribing information. All specific dosing decisions — including individual patient dose calculations, modifications for toxicity, and adjustments for renal or hepatic function — are the responsibility of the treating physician and must be guided by the full prescribing information. Procurement teams should ensure that product documentation accompanying each shipment supports clinical pharmacy verification requirements.
Safety Profile: Side Effects and Precautions
The side effect of oxaliplatin most frequently encountered by clinicians and patients is peripheral neuropathy. It manifests as paresthesias, dysesthesias, and hypoesthesias — sensory disturbances that may affect the hands, feet, and perioral region. Persistent peripheral sensory neuropathy lasting more than 14 days is classified as a serious adverse effect and can interfere significantly with a patient’s daily activities, potentially necessitating dose modification or treatment discontinuation as determined by the treating physician.
Additional common adverse effects associated with oxaliplatin therapy include fatigue, stomatitis, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. These hematologic and gastrointestinal effects require routine monitoring throughout the treatment course.
Among the serious adverse effects, anaphylactic reactions represent an acute safety concern. These reactions may occur within minutes of administration and have been managed with epinephrine, corticosteroids, and antihistamines; clinical teams must be prepared to respond to hypersensitivity events at the point of infusion. Additional serious risks include pulmonary toxicity and hepatotoxicity, both of which require clinical vigilance and appropriate monitoring protocols.
Regarding lactation, it is not known whether oxaliplatin or its derivatives are excreted in human milk. A clinical decision must be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, based on the importance of the therapy to the mother. This guidance should be communicated clearly in product documentation provided to institutional buyers and clinical end-users.
Regulatory Landscape in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East
Oxaliplatin received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2002, establishing a well-documented global regulatory benchmark. This long-standing approval history provides a robust foundation of clinical and safety data that supports registration dossier submissions in markets across the Middle East, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In Saudi Arabia, pharmaceutical procurement for institutional settings — including Ministry of Health (MOH)-affiliated hospitals, oncology centers, and government tender programs — is governed by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). Products intended for supply into the Saudi market must meet SFDA registration and importation requirements. Procurement officers and licensed importers are strongly advised to verify the current local registration status of any oxaliplatin product before initiating a purchase order or tender submission.
For B2B buyers operating across the broader Middle East region, regulatory requirements vary by country. Each national medicines authority may require specific documentation, including certificates of analysis, certificates of pharmaceutical product (CPP), and manufacturer authorization letters. Buyers sourcing Oxator for markets beyond Saudi Arabia should confirm applicable registration requirements with their local regulatory affairs teams prior to procurement. Our supply team is experienced in supporting institutional buyers with the documentation requirements relevant to regional pharmaceutical importation processes.
B2B Sourcing: Who Should Inquire About Oxator Supply?
Oxator is positioned for institutional and wholesale procurement rather than retail distribution. The following buyer categories are the primary audience for bulk supply inquiries in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East:
- Hospital pharmacies and oncology centers: Facilities managing active colorectal cancer treatment programs require consistent, uninterrupted supply of oxaliplatin 50 mg and oxaliplatin 100 mg vials to support FOLFOX-based combination regimens.
- Licensed pharmaceutical importers and wholesalers: Entities holding valid import licenses in Saudi Arabia or other GCC and Middle Eastern markets can source Oxator for onward distribution to institutional clients.
- MOH and government tender specialists: Procurement officers managing Ministry of Health tenders or national oncology drug supply programs will find Oxator a viable Bangladeshi-manufactured option for tender submissions requiring documented product quality.
- Institutional procurement officers: Supply chain managers at private hospital groups and healthcare networks seeking to consolidate oncology drug sourcing from a reliable supplier.
Sourcing Oxator from Bangladesh provides access to a quality-manufactured product backed by an established pharmaceutical manufacturer. Both vial strengths — 50 mg and 100 mg — are available for bulk orders. Contact us directly to discuss availability, lead times, and supply terms tailored to your institutional requirements.
How to Place a Bulk Inquiry for Oxaliplatin (Oxator)
International B2B buyers interested in sourcing Oxator should prepare the following information before submitting an inquiry to ensure an efficient and accurate response:
- Product strength required: Specify whether you require oxaliplatin 50 mg vials, oxaliplatin 100 mg vials, or both presentations.
- Quantity: Provide the estimated monthly or annual volume requirement to allow for accurate availability and logistics assessment.
- Destination country: Confirm the final delivery destination, including the specific city or port of entry where applicable.
- Import license details: Include your valid pharmaceutical import license number and issuing authority to facilitate regulatory compliance verification.
- Required documentation: Indicate any specific regulatory documents needed, such as a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CPP) or manufacturer authorization letter.
Once your inquiry is received, our team will confirm product availability, provide relevant documentation, and outline supply terms. Contact us for availability and pricing. We are equipped to support institutional procurement teams, licensed importers, and government tender officers across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is oxaliplatin used for?
Oxaliplatin is used for two approved indications: the adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer in patients who have undergone complete resection of the primary tumor, and the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer in the metastatic or unresectable disease setting. In both cases, it is administered in combination with infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin as part of the FOLFOX regimen.
What is the main side effect of oxaliplatin?
The main side effect most frequently encountered with oxaliplatin is peripheral neuropathy, which presents as paresthesias, dysesthesias, and hypoesthesias affecting the hands, feet, and perioral region. Persistent peripheral sensory neuropathy lasting more than 14 days is classified as a serious adverse effect and may require dose modification or treatment discontinuation as determined by the treating physician.
What class of drug is oxaliplatin?
Oxaliplatin is classified as a platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent and belongs to the alkylating agent class of cytotoxic drugs. It works by forming inter- and intrastrand Pt-DNA crosslinks that block DNA replication and transcription, with cell-cycle nonspecific cytotoxicity.
Are there serious safety risks patients and clinicians should be aware of during oxaliplatin treatment?
Yes — serious adverse effects include anaphylactic reactions, which may occur within minutes of administration and require management with epinephrine, corticosteroids, and antihistamines, as well as pulmonary toxicity and hepatotoxicity, all of which require ongoing clinical monitoring. Common effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, and thrombocytopenia also require routine management throughout the treatment course. Patients who are breastfeeding should discuss the risks with their physician, as it is not known whether oxaliplatin is excreted in human milk.
Which vial strengths of Oxator are available for institutional procurement?
Oxator is available in two vial strengths — oxaliplatin 50 mg and oxaliplatin 100 mg — both presented as powder for solution for intravenous use. Both strengths are available for bulk institutional orders, providing flexibility for hospitals and oncology centers with varying patient volumes and treatment protocol requirements.
What documentation should buyers prepare when submitting a bulk inquiry for Oxator?
Buyers should be ready to provide the required product strength or strengths, estimated monthly or annual volume, destination country and port of entry, a valid pharmaceutical import license number, and any specific regulatory documents such as a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product or manufacturer authorization letter. Having this information prepared in advance allows our supply team to confirm availability and outline supply terms efficiently.
- 1. DrugBank — Oxaliplatin monograph (DB00526)
- 2. drugs.com — Oxaliplatin monograph
- 3. accessdata.fda.gov — FDA approved label
- 4. drugs.com — Professional monograph
- 5. drugs.com — Dosage reference
Access This Medicine Through Orio Pharma
We are a specialist oncology medicine supplier delivering to hospitals, pharmacies, and distributors worldwide. Contact our team for availability, documentation, and sourcing support for Oxator (oxaliplatin).
We do not publish prices online. All pricing is provided directly by our specialist supply team on request.
Medical Information Notice: This content is for informational purposes only and is based on official pharmaceutical product documentation. It does not constitute medical advice. Patients should consult their doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication.
Regulatory Disclaimer: Sourcing and distribution are subject to regional import regulations, quotas, and verified medical prescriptions where applicable. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
Content Currency: This article was last reviewed and updated in July 2026. Regulatory approval statuses and product availability are subject to change; readers are advised to consult official regulatory databases for the most current information.