Number needed to treat (NNT) comparison between the association of cobimetinib and vemurafenib among other treatment options for metastatic melanoma with brafv600 mutation

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to estimate and compare the number needed to treat (NNT) between the association of cobimetinib + vemurafenib and other therapeutic options in the first line treatment of metastatic melanoma with BRAFV600 mutation. Methods: The NNT was calculated as the inverse of absolute risk of a drug in a specific time point (12 months). The considered comparators were vemurafenib (monotherapy), dabrafenib (monotherapy), dabrafenib + trametinib, nivolumab and ipilumumab. Progression free survival (PFS) was the defined outcome, and its curves were obtained from coBRIM, BRIM-3, BREAK-3, Robert, 2015 and Checkmate 67 studies. Results: In 12 months, the NNT results were: cobimetinib + vemurafenib = 1.92; vemurafenib = 3.33; dabrafenib = 4.67; dabrafenib + trametinib = 2.04; nivolumab = 4.39 and ipilimumab = 7.84. Conclusion: The association of cobimetinib and vemurafenib in the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma, BRAFV600 mutated without previous systemic treatment, showed favorable results in terms of NNT when compared to the other therapeutic options available in the Brazilian market for the same indication.