Cobimetinib

Cobimetinib (Cotellic®), which received FDA approval on 10 November 2015, is used in disease that cannot be surgically removed or has spread to distant tissues (metastatic) with a BRAF V600E or V600K mutation (change), in patients withmalignant melanoma, together with the drug called vemurafenib. Depending on the genetic background of the melanoma, Cobimetinib cannot be used in every patient.

Cobimetinib inhibits the functioning of structures called MAPK (mitogen – activator protein kinase)/MEK1 and MEK2 (extracellular signal-related kinase), which enable cell proliferation. Its most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea, high fever, vomiting and excessive sensitivity to sunlight.