Tafinlar Dosage

Generic name: DABRAFENIB MESYLATE 50mg
Dosage form: capsule
Drug class: Multikinase inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 31, 2023.

Patient Selection

Melanoma

Confirm the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in tumor specimens prior to initiation of treatment with TAFINLAR as a single agent [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2), Clinical Studies (14.1)].
Confirm the presence of BRAF V600E or V600K mutation in tumor specimens prior to initiation of treatment with TAFINLAR and trametinib [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2), Clinical Studies (14.2, 14.3)].
Information on FDA-approved tests for the detection of BRAF V600 mutations in melanoma is available at: http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics.

NSCLC

Confirm the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in tumor specimens prior to initiation of treatment with TAFINLAR and trametinib [see Clinical Studies (14.4)].
Information on FDA-approved tests for the detection of BRAF V600E mutations in NSCLC is available at: http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics.

ATC

Confirm the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in tumor specimens prior to initiation of treatment with TAFINLAR and trametinib [see Clinical Studies (14.5)]. An FDA-approved test for the detection of BRAF V600E mutation in ATC is not currently available.

Solid Tumors

Confirm the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in tumor specimens prior to initiation of treatment with TAFINLAR and trametinib [see Clinical Studies (14.6)]. An FDA-approved test for the detection of BRAF V600E mutation in solid tumors other than melanoma and NSCLC is not currently available.

Low-Grade Glioma

Confirm the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in tumor specimens prior to initiation of treatment with TAFINLAR and trametinib [see Clinical Studies (14.7)]. An FDA-approved test for the detection of BRAF V600E mutation in LGG is not currently available.

Recommended Dosage

TAFINLAR Capsules

Adult Patients

The recommended dosage for TAFINLAR capsules in adult patients is 150 mg taken orally twice daily [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)].

Pediatric Patients

The recommended dosage for TAFINLAR capsules in pediatric patients who weigh at least 26 kg is based on body weight (Table 1) [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)]. A recommended dosage of TAFINLAR capsules has not been established in patients who weigh less than 26 kg.

Table 1. Recommended Dosage for TAFINLAR Capsules in Pediatric Patients (Weight-based)
Body Weight	Recommended Dosage
26 to 37 kg	75 mg orally twice daily
38 to 50 kg	100 mg orally twice daily
51 kg or greater	150 mg orally twice daily

TAFINLAR Tablets for Oral Suspension

The recommended dosage for TAFINLAR tablets for oral suspension is based on body weight (Table 2) [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)].

Table 2. Recommended Dosage for TAFINLAR Tablets for Oral Suspension (Weight-based)
Body Weight	Recommended Dosage
8 to 9 kg	20 mg twice daily
10 to 13 kg	30 mg twice daily
14 to 17 kg	40 mg twice daily
18 to 21 kg	50 mg twice daily
22 to 25 kg	60 mg twice daily
26 to 29 kg	70 mg twice daily
30 to 33 kg	80 mg twice daily
34 to 37 kg	90 mg twice daily
38 to 41 kg	100 mg twice daily
42 to 45 kg	110 mg twice daily
46 to 50 kg	130 mg twice daily
≥ 51 kg	150 mg twice daily

The recommended duration of treatment for patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma or solid tumors, metastatic NSCLC, or locally advanced or metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer is until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
The recommended duration of treatment in the adjuvant melanoma setting is until disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity for up to 1 year.
The recommended duration of treatment for pediatric patients with LGG is until disease progression or until unacceptable toxicity.

Refer to the trametinib prescribing information for recommended trametinib dosing information.

Administration

Take TAFINLAR at the same time each day, approximately 12 hours apart.
Take TAFINLAR at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Do not take a missed dose of TAFINLAR within 6 hours of the next dose of TAFINLAR.
If vomiting occurs after TAFINLAR administration, do not take an additional dose. Take the next dose at its scheduled time.

TAFINLAR Capsules

Do not open, crush, or break TAFINLAR capsules.

TAFINLAR Tablets for Oral Suspension

Prior to use of the oral suspension, instruct caregivers (and if appropriate, patients) on proper dosing and administration of TAFINLAR tablets for oral suspension.
Do not swallow whole, chew or crush TAFINLAR tablets for oral suspension.

Preparation and Administration

Prepare suspension with approximately 5 mL of water for 1 to 4 tablets, and approximately 10 mL of water for 5 to 15 tablets in the provided cup.
Gently stir the water and prescribed number of tablets with the handle of a teaspoon until the tablets are fully dissolved. It may take at least 3 minutes to fully dissolve the tablets. Once the tablets for oral suspension are dissolved, the suspension will be cloudy white.
Administer suspension immediately after preparation from cup, oral dosing syringe or feeding tube.
Discard suspension if not administered within 30 minutes after preparation.

Dosage Modifications for Adverse Reactions

Dose reductions for adverse reactions associated with TAFINLAR are presented in Tables 3 and 4.

Table 3. Recommended Dosage Reductions for TAFINLAR Capsules for Adverse Reactions
Recommended Dosage	75 mg orally twice daily	100 mg orally twice daily	150 mg orally twice daily
First dose reduction	50 mg orally twice daily	75 mg orally twice daily	100 mg orally twice daily
Second dose reduction	N/A	50 mg orally twice daily	75 mg orally twice daily
Third dose reduction	N/A	N/A	50 mg orally twice daily
Subsequent modification	Permanently discontinue if unable to tolerate TAFINLAR capsules 50 mg orally twice daily.

Table 4. Recommended Dosage Reductions for TAFINLAR Tablets for Oral Suspension for Adverse Reactions
Body Weight (Recommended dosage)	First Dose Reduction	Second Dose Reduction	Third Dose Reduction
	Tablets for oral suspension twice daily
8 to 9 kg (20 mg twice daily)	10 mg twice daily	N/A	N/A
10 to 13 kg (30 mg twice daily)	20 mg twice daily	10 mg twice daily	N/A
14 to 17 kg (40 mg twice daily)	30 mg twice daily	20 mg twice daily	10 mg twice daily
18 to 21 kg (50 mg twice daily)	30 mg twice daily	20 mg twice daily	10 mg twice daily
22 to 25 kg (60 mg twice daily)	40 mg twice daily	30 mg twice daily	20 mg twice daily
26 to 29 kg (70 mg twice daily)	50 mg twice daily	40 mg twice daily	20 mg twice daily
30 to 33 kg (80 mg twice daily)	50 mg twice daily	40 mg twice daily	30 mg twice daily
34 to 37 kg (90 mg twice daily)	60 mg twice daily	50 mg twice daily	30 mg twice daily
38 to 41 kg (100 mg twice daily)	70 mg twice daily	50 mg twice daily	30 mg twice daily
42 to 45 kg (110 mg twice daily)	70 mg twice daily	60 mg twice daily	40 mg twice daily
46 to 50 kg (130 mg twice daily)	90 mg twice daily	70 mg twice daily	40 mg twice daily
≥ 51 kg (150 mg twice daily)	100 mg twice daily	80 mg twice daily	50 mg twice daily

Dosage modifications for adverse reactions associated with TAFINLAR are presented in Table 5.

Table 5. Recommended Dosage Modifications for TAFINLAR for Adverse Reactions
a National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 4.0. b See Tables 3 and 4 for recommended dose reductions of TAFINLAR. c Dose modifications are not recommended for TAFINLAR when administered with trametinib for the following adverse reactions of trametinib: retinal vein occlusion (RVO), retinal pigment epithelial detachment (RPED), interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis, and uncomplicated venous thromboembolism. Dose modification of TAFINLAR is not required for new primary cutaneous malignancies.
Severity of Adverse Reactiona	Dosage Modification for TAFINLARb
New Primary Malignancies [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
Non-Cutaneous RAS Mutation-positive Malignancies	Permanently discontinue TAFINLAR.
Cardiomyopathy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]
Symptomatic congestive heart failure Absolute decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of greater than 20% from baseline that is below lower limit of normal (LLN)	Withhold TAFINLAR until LVEF improves to at least the institutional LLN and absolute decrease to less than or equal to 10% compared to baseline, then resume at same dose.
Uveitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]
Uveitis, including iritis and iridocyclitis	For mild or moderate uveitis does not respond to ocular therapy, or for severe uveitis, withhold TAFINLAR for up to 6 weeks. If improved to Grade 0-1, then resume TAFINLAR at same or lower dose. If not improved, permanently discontinue TAFINLAR.
Febrile Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]
Fever of 100.4°F to 104°F (or first symptoms in case of recurrence)	Withhold TAFINLAR until fever resolves, then resume TAFINLAR at same or lower dose.
Fever higher than 104°F Fever complicated by rigors, hypotension, dehydration, or renal failure	Withhold TAFINLAR until febrile reactions resolve for at least 24 hours, then resume TAFINLAR at lower dose. Or Permanently discontinue TAFINLAR.
Skin Toxicities [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)]
Intolerable Grade 2 Grade 3 or 4	Withhold TAFINLAR for up to 3 weeks. If improved, resume TAFINLAR at lower dose. If not improved, permanently discontinue TAFINLAR.
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs)	Permanently discontinue TAFINLAR.
Other Adverse Reactionsc, including Hemorrhage [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
Intolerable Grade 2 Any Grade 3	Withhold TAFINLAR. If improved to Grade 0-1, resume TAFINLAR at lower dose. If not improved, permanently discontinue TAFINLAR.
First occurrence of any Grade 4	Withhold TAFINLAR until improves to Grade 0-1, then resume at lower dose. Or Permanently discontinue TAFINLAR.
Recurrent Grade 4	Permanently discontinue TAFINLAR.