Dabrafenib

Dapafenib is a cancer drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline in the United States to treat metastatic melanoma. It belongs to the BRAF inhibitor class and is used medicinally in the form of methanesulfonate. It was formerly known as GSK2118436 and its trade name is Tafinlar. On May 29, 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) simultaneously approved the marketing applications of two drugs under GlaxoSmithKline, Tafinlar and Mekinist. Tafinlar is approved for the treatment of unresectable melanoma (tumors that cannot be removed through surgery) and metastatic melanoma (tumors that have spread to other organs in the body) carrying BRAFV600E mutations, but cannot be used for the treatment of wild-type BRAF melanoma. Mekinist is used to treat non resectable or metastatic melanoma carrying BRAFV600E or V600K mutations. Mekinist should not be used to treat melanoma patients who have previously used BRAF inhibitors. The combination of these two drugs is believed to have a more effective and long-lasting therapeutic effect on melanoma, and the combination of these two drugs is also considered a major commercial opportunity for both drugs.