Study of Binimetinib in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Binimetinib is a drug that, inside the cell, blocks an important series of chemical reactions called a molecular pathway. Binimetinib blocks the MEK1/2 pathway from working. In some types of cancers, this pathway becomes too active, which can cause tumor cell growth. Blocking the MEK1/2 pathway from working is thought to slow or stop tumor cell growth.

Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy drug that is approved by Health Canada for the treatment of patients with PD-L1 positive non-small cell lung cancer as a first treatment. PD-1 is a type of protein that binds to another type of protein known as PD-L1. When these proteins bind together, it helps prevent cells from killing each other, including cancer cells. Some drugs, like pembrolizumab, are used to block PD-1 from binding to PD-L1. When the protein is blocked, the body's immune system can kill more cells.