What has NICE said?
Cobimetinib (Cotellic) with vemurafenib (Zelboraf) is not recommended for adults with unresectable or metastatic melanoma that has the BRAF V600 mutation.
Cobimetinib with vemurafenib should not normally be prescribed on the NHS for melanoma as described above. Your doctor should talk to you about other treatment options available to you.
If you are already taking cobimetinib with vemurafenib, you should be able to continue taking it until you and your doctor decide it is the right time to stop.
The condition and the treatments
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. Unresectable melanoma can't be completely removed by surgery, and metastatic means it has spread to other parts of the body. One type of melanoma has a change in the cells, called the 'BRAF V600 mutation'. This makes it produce too much BRAF protein, which makes the cancer cells grow and divide.
Cobimetinib and vemurafenib are drugs that can slow down the growth of the cancer.
NHS Choices may be a good place to find out more.
These organisations can give you advice and support:
-
Cancer Research UK, 0808 800 4040
-
Macmillan Cancer Support, 0808 808 0000
-
Melanoma UK, 0808 171 2455
-
Skcin – Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity, 0115 981 9116
NICE is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations.