What is "cobimetinib"

Cobimetinib (trade name Cotellic) is a MEK inhibitor developed by Exelixis and Genentech. It is used in combination with vemurafenib, a BRAF inhibitor, to treat melanoma. In November 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved cobimetinib for unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600E or V600K mutation, in combination with vemurafenib (Zelboraf). Cobimetinib is not indicated for treatment of patients with wild-type BRAF melanoma.

Cobimetinib in combination with vemurafenib is reportedly priced at $17,600 per month, or about $211,000 per year. A competing dual therapy, using dabrafenib along with trametinib, is also approved by the FDA, and is reported to cost $15,300 monthly, or $183,600 per year.