Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government

Dabrafenib Mesylate

Placeholder slot
 (duh-BRA-feh-nib MEH-zih-layt)

This page contains brief information about dabrafenib mesylate and a collection of links to more information about the use of this drug, research results, and ongoing clinical trials.

US Brand Name(s)
Tafinlar
FDA Approved
Yes

FDA label information for this drug is available at DailyMed.

Use in Cancer

Dabrafenib mesylate is approved to be used alone or with trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide to treat patients whose cancer has a certain mutation in the BRAF gene, including:

  • Anaplastic thyroid cancer that is locally advanced or has spread to other parts of the body and cannot be treated with local therapy. It is used with trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide.
  • Glioma that is low grade in children aged 1 year and older who require systemic therapy. It is used with trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide.
  • Melanoma. It is used:
    • With trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide in patients who have had surgery to remove cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.
    • Alone or with trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide in patients whose cancer cannot be removed by surgery or has spread to other parts of the body.
  • Non-small cell lung cancer that has metastasized. It is used with trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide.
  • Solid tumors. It is used with trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide in adults and children aged 6 years and older whose tumors cannot be removed by surgery or have spread to other parts of the body and have gotten worse after other treatment and cannot be treated with other therapies.¹

¹This use is approved under FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program. As a condition of approval, a confirmatory trial(s) must show that dabrafenib mesylate provides a clinical benefit in these patients.

Dabrafenib mesylate is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

More About Dabrafenib Mesylate

Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.

MedlinePlus Information on Dabrafenib Mesylate - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:

  • warnings about this drug,
  • what this drug is used for and how it is used,
  • what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
  • what you should know about this drug before using it,
  • other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
  • possible side effects.

Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.

Research Results and Related Resources

Androgen Receptor May Explain Sex Differences in Melanoma Treatment Response

Dabrafenib–Trametinib Combination Approved for Solid Tumors with BRAF Mutations

For Some Kids with Brain Cancer, Targeted Therapy Is Better than Chemo

Targeted Cancer Therapies

Immunotherapy Combination Most Effective as Initial Treatment for BRAF+ Melanoma

Clinical Trials Accepting Patients

Find Clinical Trials for Dabrafenib Mesylate - Check for trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials now accepting patients.

  • Posted:
  • Updated:
Email