Definition

A drug used to treat Erdheim-Chester disease (a very rare type of histiocytosis) and advanced melanoma that have a certain mutation (change) in the BRAF gene. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Vemurafenib blocks certain proteins made by the mutated BRAF gene, which may help keep cancer cells from growing. It is a type of kinase inhibitor. Also called BRAF (V600E) kinase inhibitor RO5185426, PLX4032, RG7204, and Zelboraf.