Savolitinib (Orpathys; HUTCHMED, AstraZeneca) is a receptor tyrosine kinase mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET) inhibitor being developed for the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), papillary and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. Based on the results of a pivotal phase II trial in patients with NSCLC/pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma, savolitinib was recently granted approval in China (conditional on the results of a phase III trial) for the treatment of metastatic NSCLC with MET exon 14-skipping alterations in patients who have progressed after or who are unable to tolerate platinum-based chemotherapy. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of savolitinib leading to this first approval.