binimetinib at a glance
Medicine class
MEK1 and MEK2 inhibitor
Licensed uses
BRAF-mutated unresectable or metastatic melanoma and advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Combination treatment
Used with encorafenib, not as licensed monotherapy
Food
May be taken with or without food
What is binimetinib used for?
Licensed use is restricted to adults whose tumour has the relevant confirmed BRAF mutation. Binimetinib is used with encorafenib for:
Unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation.
Advanced non-small cell lung cancer with a BRAF V600E mutation.
How does binimetinib work?
Binimetinib reversibly inhibits MEK1 and MEK2, proteins in the MAPK pathway that can drive cancer-cell growth. Encorafenib blocks abnormal BRAF further upstream, targeting the pathway at another point.
binimetinib preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 15 mg, 45 mg
How to take binimetinib
Follow the specialist cancer team’s instructions. Swallow the tablets whole with water, with or without food.
If swallowing is difficult, the selected film-coated tablets may be dispersed in a small glass of water, orange juice or apple juice and taken immediately.
Rinse the glass with the same liquid and drink the rinse immediately.
Do not stop binimetinib or encorafenib without instructions from the oncology team.
binimetinib side effects
Common or expected effects
- Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, constipation or abdominal pain
- Tiredness, headache or dizziness
- Rash, itching, dry skin, hair thinning or thickened skin
- Muscle, joint, back or limb pain
- Visual disturbance
- Peripheral swelling
- Anaemia or altered liver, creatinine or creatine kinase blood tests
Get urgent medical advice
- New blurred vision, loss of vision, eye pain or redness
- Breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness or leg swelling suggesting reduced heart function
- Chest pain, sudden breathlessness or a painful swollen limb suggesting a blood clot
- Unusual or serious bleeding
- Muscle pain, weakness or cramps with dark urine
- New or worsening cough or breathlessness suggesting lung inflammation
- Markedly reduced urine, irregular heartbeat, cramps, seizures or cloudy urine suggesting tumour lysis syndrome
- Severe allergic reaction
binimetinib in pregnancy
Binimetinib is not recommended during pregnancy because animal studies indicate reproductive toxicity and human data are lacking. Effective contraception is required during treatment and for at least one month afterwards. Discuss pregnancy or plans to conceive promptly with the specialist team.
binimetinib while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether binimetinib or its metabolites enter human milk, and harm to a breastfed child cannot be excluded. The specialist team must weigh the benefit of treatment against breastfeeding before deciding which to stop.
binimetinib interactions
The cancer team and pharmacist should check prescribed, non-prescribed and herbal products before treatment and whenever medicines change.
Rifampicin, phenobarbital and other UGT1A1 modifiers
May alter binimetinib handling; cautious co-administration is advised because clinical interaction data are limited.
Carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampicin and St John’s wort
Enzyme or transporter induction may lower binimetinib exposure and reduce effectiveness.
Indinavir, atazanavir or sorafenib
These UGT1A1 inhibitors should be used cautiously with binimetinib.
Common questions about binimetinib
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is binimetinib used on its own?
Its selected UK licences require use with encorafenib. The treatments block different points in the BRAF–MEK signalling pathway.
Why is BRAF testing needed?
The licensed combination is intended only for cancers carrying specified BRAF mutations and should not be used for BRAF wild-type melanoma or lung cancer.
Which eye symptoms matter?
New blurred or reduced vision, coloured spots, halos, eye pain, redness or swelling require prompt contact with the oncology team and may need urgent ophthalmological assessment.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.