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Dabrafenib plus trametinib is the BRAF-plus-MEK pill combination, approved for BRAF V600E lung cancer and, since 2022, for any solid tumour with that mutation.
Dabrafenib blocks BRAF V600 and trametinib is an allosteric MEK1/2 inhibitor; blocking two consecutive steps of the MAPK pathway (vertical blockade) prevents the paradoxical reactivation seen with BRAF inhibitors alone. In BRAF V600E non-small-cell lung cancer (about 2% of adenocarcinomas) the combination gave an ORR of 64% first line with median PFS of about 10.8 months (BRF113928), and it is an established doublet in BRAF-mutant melanoma and thyroid cancer. A tumour-agnostic approval followed in June 2022 for BRAF V600E solid tumours (excluding colorectal) in patients aged 6 and over. Pyrexia is the characteristic toxicity and the usual reason for dose interruptions. Encorafenib plus binimetinib (PHAROS, 2023) is the alternative doublet in lung cancer. In short, if a tumour carries BRAF V600E, this pair of pills is a treatment option in most tissue types.
BRAF V600 inhibitor plus allosteric MEK1/2 inhibitor; vertical blockade prevents paradoxical MAPK reactivation. Connects to BRAF.
1.Dabrafenib + trametinib slips into a pocket on BRAF.
Oral, self-administered, so it is a Part D drug: covered through a stand-alone Part D plan or Medicare Advantage drug benefit, usually on the specialty tier with 25 to 33% coinsurance until the annual cap ($2,000 in 2025, $2,100 in 2026). Both components are Part D; the paediatric oral suspensions are also Part D.
Covered for FDA-labelled and NCCN-listed uses, but almost always behind prior authorisation confirming diagnosis, biomarker and line of therapy; dispensed through a specialty pharmacy. BRAF V600 mutation by an approved test.
Part D out-of-pocket capped at $2,000 (2025) / $2,100 (2026). Medicare patients cannot use manufacturer co-pay cards; charity funds (PAN, HealthWell, CancerCare) and the Extra Help subsidy are the routes.
Sources: Medicare.gov: Drug coverage (Part D) · Medicare.gov: Costs for Medicare drug coverage (annual out-of-pocket cap). Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.
Sources: NICE TA396 · SMC advice: dabrafenib with trametinib. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.
| Region | Year | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| US | 2014 | BRAF V600E/K unresectable or metastatic melanoma, combination (accelerated; each drug alone approved 2013) |
| US | 2017 | BRAF V600E metastatic NSCLC |
| US | 2022 | BRAF V600E solid tumours, tumour-agnostic (age ≥6) |
| England (NICE) | 2023 | BRAF V600 mutation-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, first line only · TA898, published 14 June 2023, recommends the combination only as first-line treatment of advanced disease, subject to the commercial arrangement. A patient who has already had chemotherapy or immunotherapy is not funded for it. |
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Query for this drug: (TITLE:"Dabrafenib + trametinib" OR ABSTRACT:"Dabrafenib + trametinib" OR TITLE:"Tafinlar + Mekinist" OR ABSTRACT:"Tafinlar + Mekinist") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Dabrafenib + trametinib, not a curated reading list.
Shares BRF113928 cohort C (dabrafenib with trametinib, untreated BRAF V600E), TADPOLE (CDRB436G2201), PHAROS, Single-system Langerhans cell histiocytosis (bone, skin or one other organ).
Shares Keith T. Flaherty, Single-system Langerhans cell histiocytosis (bone, skin or one other organ), Multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis (with or without risk-organ involvement), Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).
Shares Single-system Langerhans cell histiocytosis (bone, skin or one other organ), Multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis (with or without risk-organ involvement), Erdheim-Chester disease, BRAF V600E (and V600K).
Shares RACE for Children Act, Paediatric high-grade glioma (excluding diffuse midline glioma), Ampullary cancer (ampulla of Vater), KRAS wild-type pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Shares PHAROS, BRAF V600E (and V600K), BRAF V600E-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer, BRAF V600-mutant melanoma.
Shares BRAF inhibitor + MEK inhibitor, Immunotherapy first, then BRAF/MEK (BRAF-mutant melanoma), PHAROS, BRAF V600E (and V600K).
Shares Paediatric high-grade glioma (excluding diffuse midline glioma), Ampullary cancer (ampulla of Vater), KRAS wild-type pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, Tumour-agnostic (tissue-agnostic) approval.
Shares COMBI-AD, COMBI-d, BRAF V600-mutant melanoma, Stage III melanoma (after surgery).