Dabrafenib + trametinib
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.
In BRAF V600E NSCLC (~2% of adenocarcinomas): ORR 64% first line, median PFS ~10.8 months (BRF113928). Tumour-agnostic approval June 2022 for BRAF V600E solid tumours (excluding colorectal). Pyrexia is the characteristic toxicity. Encorafenib + binimetinib (PHAROS, 2023) is the alternative doublet.
- Medicare
- Part D (self-administered)
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.
- Commercial insurance
- covered with prior authorisation
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.
- Assistance programmes
- Novartis Patient Support (Patient Assistance NOW Oncology)
- PAN Foundation — Disease-specific co-pay and premium funds; open and closed funds change monthly.
- HealthWell Foundation
- CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
- Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief
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.
- Appraised for
- Unresectable or metastatic BRAF V600-mutated melanoma
- Notes
- Adjuvant stage III melanoma: TA544 (2018). BRAF V600E NSCLC: TA898 (2023). Dabrafenib monotherapy: TA321 (2014). Paediatric BRAF-mutated glioma appraised 2024-25.
- NHS England
- Routinely funded for the appraised indication (or via managed access)
Sources: NICE TA396 · SMC advice: dabrafenib with trametinib. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.
Approvals
| Region | Year | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| US | 2017 | BRAF V600E metastatic NSCLC |
| US | 2022 | BRAF V600E solid tumours, tumour-agnostic (age ≥6) |
Trials
topRecruiting now (live from ClinicalTrials.gov)
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Latest papers
topQuery 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.
Pages like this
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