Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc., a Flint, Mich.-based specialty pharmacy and regular attendee of ECRM Pharmacy events will dispense COTELLIC (cobimetinib) in combination with the BRAF inhibitor ZELBORAF (vemurafenib) to treat patients with advanced melanoma that is unresectable (cannot be removed by surgery) or metastatic (cancer that has spread from the primary site).

“We are excited to dispense this combination treatment for patients suffering from advanced melanoma,” said Gary Kadlec, President of Diplomat. “Patients in search of a new treatment option have an opportunity to explore one, with a therapy that combines the advantages of these two medications for a lasting impact.”

The combination of COTELLIC with ZELBORAF helps patients with previously untreated BRAF V600 mutation-positive advanced melanoma live a median of one year (12.3 months) without their disease worsening, compared to 7.2 months with ZELBORAF alone.

COTELLIC is designed to selectively block the activity of MEK, one of a series of enzymes that make up a signaling pathway that helps regulate cell division and survival.

ZELBORAF binds to and inhibits mutant forms of BRAF, another enzyme in the pathway, to interrupt abnormal signaling that can cause tumor growth.

Melanoma is less common, but more aggressive and deadlier than other forms of skin cancer. The BRAF gene is mutated in approximately half of all melanomas. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 73,870 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma this year and 9,940 will die from the disease.

ZELBORAF was the first prescription treatment for patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600 mutation as detected by a validated test. ZELBORAF is not indicated for use in patients with wild-type BRAF melanoma.

COTELLIC is manufactured by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

Diplomat serves patients and physicians in all 50 states, focusing on medication management programs for people with complex chronic diseases, including oncology, immunology, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, HIV, specialized infusion therapy and many other serious or long-term conditions. Diplomat opened its doors in 1975 as a neighborhood pharmacy with one essential tenet: “Take good care of patients, and the rest falls into place.” Today, that tradition continues—always focused on improving patient care and clinical adherence.