Dr. Weber on Dabrafenib/Trametinib Versus Vemurafenib/Cobimetinib in Melanoma

Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD, deputy director, Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, co-director of its Melanoma Program, head of Experimental Therapeutics, NYU Langone Medical Center, compares the efficacy of dabrafenib (Tafinlar) plus trametinib (Mekinist) versus vemurafenib (Zelboraf) plus cobimetinib (Cotellic).

Weber explains that a head-to-head trial of dabrafenib/trametinib versus vemurafenib/cobimetinib will likely never take place because the survival benefits of each combination overlap. The probability of detecting differences between the two combinations is incredibly low, he adds. Both regimens are associated with significant median overall survivals.

Selecting one of these combinations for individual patients will likely be based on the side effect profiles, Weber says.

In November 2015, the FDA granted a full approval to the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib for patients with unresectable or metastatic BRAF-mutated melanoma.