Tafinlar

Generic name:dabrafenib [ da-bRAF-e-nib ]
Drug class:Multikinase inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Apr 21, 2022.

What is Tafinlar?

Tafinlar is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Tafinlar is used alone or in combination with another medicine called trametinib (Mekinist) to treat certain types of cancer in people who have a "BRAF" gene mutation.

Tafinlar is for use in treating:

• melanoma (skin cancer) that cannot be treated with surgery or has spread to other parts of the body, or to prevent melanoma from coming back after surgery;

• non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body; or

• advanced or metastatic thyroid cancer that has spread and for which there are no other treatment options.

Warnings

Using Tafinlar with trametinib may increase your risk of developing a certain type of skin cancer. Ask your doctor about your specific risk. Tell your doctor if you notice any new skin symptoms.

Your healthcare provider should check your skin before you start taking Tafinlar, and every two months while taking this medicine to look for any new skin cancers.

Your healthcare provider may continue to check your skin for six months after you stop taking Tafinlar.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Tafinlar if you are allergic to dabrafenib.

To make sure Tafinlar is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• heart disease;

• bleeding problems;

• liver or kidney disease;

• diabetes (dabrafenib may raise your blood sugar);

• eye problems (especially a problem with your retina); or

• a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.

Using dabrafenib with trametinib may increase your risk of developing a certain type of skin cancer. Ask your doctor about your specific risk. Tell your doctor if you notice any new skin symptoms such as redness, warts, sores that will not heal, or a mole that has changed in size or color.

You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.

Both men and women using this medicine should use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy. Dabrafenib can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or father is using this medicine.

Keep using birth control for at least 2 weeks after your last dose. Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using Tafinlar.

If you use Tafinlar and trametinib together: Keep using birth control for at least 4 months after your last dose of these two m...