Capmatinib – Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interaction

Patient Tools

Read, save, and share this guide

Use these quick tools to make this medical article easier to read, print, save, or share with a family member.

On this page11 sections

Article Summary

Capmatinib is an orally bioavailable inhibitor of the proto-oncogene c-Met (also known as hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR)) with potential antineoplastic activity. Capmatinib selectively binds to c-Met, thereby inhibiting c-Met phosphorylation and disrupting c-Met signal transduction pathways. This may induce cell death in tumor cells by overexpressing the c-Met protein or expressing the constitutively activated c-Met protein. c-Met, a receptor tyrosine kinase overexpressed or mutated...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains Mechanism of Action in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Indications in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Contraindication in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Dosage in simple medical language.
Before reading

RX Patient Tools

Use these quick guides before reading the article, or return to them when you need help preparing questions for a doctor.

Start here Choose the right pathway for symptoms, reports, medicines, or urgent warning signs. Disease article roadmap Read this topic step by step: meaning, symptoms, warning signs, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and follow-up. Treatment planner Prepare questions about treatment choices, benefits, risks, side effects, and follow-up. Family & caregiver guide Organize symptoms, reports, medicines, questions, and follow-up safely. Nutrition & diet guide Prepare food, hydration, supplement, and medicine-timing questions safely. Prevention guide Organize risk factors, protective habits, screening, and warning signs. Recovery guide Prepare a safe plan for activity, rehabilitation, warning signs, and follow-up.
Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.
Reviewed content workflowUse writer and reviewer profiles for stronger trust.
Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.
Choose your reading view

Patient View highlights a simple learning journey. Clinical View reveals structure, evidence, and editorial completeness.

Capmatinib Hydrochloride is the hydrochloride salt form of capmatinib, an orally bioavailable inhibitor of the proto-oncogene c-Met (also known as hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR)) with potential antineoplastic activity. Capmatinib selectively binds to c-Met, thereby inhibiting c-Met phosphorylation and disrupting c-Met signal transduction pathways. This may induce cell death in tumor cells by overexpressing the c-Met protein or expressing the constitutively activated c-Met protein. c-Met, a receptor tyrosine kinase overexpressed or mutated in many tumor cell types, plays key roles in tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion, metastasis, and tumor angiogenesis.

Mechanism of Action

Aberrant activation of c-Met has been documented in many cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Mutations that result in the skipping of _MET_ exon 14 lead to the formation of a mutant c-Met with a missing regulatory domain – these mutant proteins have a reduced ability to negatively regulate, leading to a pathological increase in their downstream activity. Capmatinib inhibits the phosphorylation of both wild-type and mutant variants of c-Met triggered by the binding of its endogenous ligand, hepatocyte growth factor – in doing so, it prevents c-Met-mediated phosphorylation of downstream signaling proteins, as well as the proliferation and survival of c-Met-dependent tumor cells.

Capmatinib inhibits the overactivity of c-Met, a receptor tyrosine kinase encoded by the _MET_ proto-oncogene. Mutations in _MET_ are involved in the proliferation of many cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Capmatinib may cause photosensitivity reactions in patients following ultraviolet (UV) exposure – patients undergoing therapy with capmatinib should be advised to use sunscreen and protective clothing to limit exposure to UV radiation. Instances of /pneumonitis, which can be fatal, occurred in patients being treated with capmatinib. Patients presenting with signs or symptoms of lung disease (e.g. , , ) should have capmatinib immediately withheld, and capmatinib should be permanently discontinued if no other feasible causes of the lung-related symptoms are identified.

Indications

  • Capmatinib is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have a mutation that leads to mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping as detected by an FDA-approved test.
  • Tabrecta as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring alterations leading to mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor gene exon 14 (METex14) skipping, who require therapy following prior treatment with and/or platinum-based .
  • Capmatinib is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adults with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have a mutation that leads to mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping as detected by an FDA-approved test.
  • In the US, capmatinib is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have a mutation that leads to mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping as detected by an FDA-approved test.
  • Capmatinib is approved to treat adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with MET exon 14 skipping alterations in Canada.[rx]
  • Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
  • Unresectable, locally advanced Non-Small Cell Lung (NSCLC)

Use in Cancer

Capmatinib hydrochloride is approved to treat:

Capmatinib hydrochloride is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

  • abnormal function tests
  • pregnancy
  • a patient who is producing milk and breastfeeding
  • lung tissue problem

Strengths: 150 mg; 200 mg

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

  • 400 mg orally 2 times daily
  • For the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have a mutation that leads to mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping as detected by an approved test

Dose Adjustments

DOSE MODIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS:

  • First dose reduction: 300 mg orally 2 times daily
  • Second dose reduction: 300 mg orally 2 times daily
  • Permanently discontinue this drug in patients who are unable to tolerate 200 mg orally 2 times daily.

DOSE MODIFICATION FOR ADVERSE REACTIONS:
INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE ()/PNEUMONITIS:

  • Any Grade: Permanently discontinue this drug.

Increased ALT and/or AST without increased total :

  • Grade 3: Withhold therapy until recovery to ALT/AST; if recovered to baseline within 7 days, resume this drug at the same dose; otherwise resume at a reduced dose.
  • Grade 4: Permanently discontinue this drug.

INCREASED ALT AND/OR AST WITH INCREASED TOTAL BILIRUBIN IN THE ABSENCE OF CHOLESTASIS OR HEMOLYSIS:

  • ALT and/or AST greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) with total bilirubin greater than 2 x ULN: Permanently discontinue this drug.

INCREASED TOTAL BILIRUBIN WITHOUT CONCURRENT INCREASED ALT AND/OR AST:

  • Grade 2: Withhold therapy until recovery to baseline bilirubin; if recovered to baseline within 7 days, resume this drug at the same dose; otherwise resume at a reduced dose.
  • Grade 3: Withhold therapy until recovery to baseline bilirubin; if recovered to baseline within 7 days, resume this drug at a reduced dose; otherwise permanently discontinue this drug.
  • Grade 4: Permanently discontinue this drug.

OTHER ADVERSE REACTIONS:

  • Grade 2: Maintain dose level; if intolerable, consider withholding this drug until resolved, then resume at a reduced dose.
  • Grade 3: Withhold this drug until resolved then resume at a reduced dose.
  • Grade 4: Permanently discontinue this drug.

Side Effects

The Most Common

  • muscle, bone, or
  • tiredness and
  • in hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
  • rash
  • shortness of breath or trouble breathing, cough, fever, or other signs of infection
  • chest pain
  • pain in right upper part of the stomach; swelling in your stomach area; unusual bruising or bleeding; dark urine; yellowing of the skin and eyes; nausea, vomiting; light-colored stools; loss of appetite
  • ongoing pain that begins in the stomach area, but may spread to the back; nausea; vomiting; weight loss

More Common

  • our skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow
    (jaundice)
  • loss of appetite for several days or longer
  • dark or “tea-colored” urine o nausea and vomiting
  • light-colored stools (bowel movements)
  • confusion
  • pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your
  • stomach area (abdomen)
  • tiredness o weakness
  • swelling in your stomach-area

Rare

  • new or worsening cough, chest pain, trouble breathing;
  • fever, cough with mucus;
  • severe ongoing nausea and vomiting; or
  • signs of liver or pancreas problems–loss of appetite, upper stomach pain (that may spread to your back), nausea or vomiting, fast heart rate, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
  • trouble breathing;
  • vomiting decreased appetite;
  • feeling weak or tired
  • abnormal liver function tests;
  • swelling in your hands or feet.

Drug Interaction

Pregnancy and Lactation

US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned.

Pregnancy

Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action, TABRECTA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no available data on TABRECTA use in pregnant women. Oral administration of capmatinib to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in malformations at maternal exposures less than the human exposure based on AUC at the 400 mg twice daily clinical dose. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.

Lactation

There are no data on the presence of capmatinib or its metabolites in either human or animal milk or its effects on the breastfed child or on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed children, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with TABRECTA and for 1 week after the last dose.

How should this medicine be used?

Capmatinib comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken twice daily with or without food. Take capmatinib at around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take capmatinib exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Swallow the tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them.

If you vomit after taking capmatinib, do not take another dose. Continue your regular dosing schedule.

Your doctor may need to temporarily or permanently stop your treatment or decrease your dose of capmatinib during your treatment. This depends on how well the medication works for you and the side effects you experience. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with capmatinib.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking capmatinib,

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to capmatinib, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in capmatinib tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • The following nonprescription or herbal products may interact with capmatinib: St. John’s Wort. Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking these medications before you start taking capmatinib. Do not start any of these medications while taking capmatinib without discussing with your healthcare provider.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had lung disease or breathing problems other than from lung cancer, pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas), or liver disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while you are taking capmatinib. You will need to have a pregnancy test before you start treatment, and you should use birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment and for at least 1 week after your final dose. If you are a male with a female partner who may become pregnant, you should use birth control to prevent pregnancy during you treatment and for at least 1 week after your final dose. Capmatinib may harm your unborn baby. If you or your partner become pregnant during your treatment with capmatinib, call your doctor immediately.
  • tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while you are taking capmatinib and for at least 1 week after your final dose.
  • plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear a hat, other protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

References

  1. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/213591s004lbl.pdf
  2. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-grants-accelerated-approval-capmatinib-metastatic-non-small-cell-lung-cancer
  3. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Capmatinib
  4. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Capmatinib-hydrochloride
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capmatinib
  6. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a620038.html
  7. https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB11791
  8. https://www.drugs.com/pregnancy/capmatinib.html
  9. https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-179305/capmatinib-oral/details/list-contraindications
  10. ChemIDplus Chemical Information Classification
  11. LICENSE
    Creative Common’s Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode)
  12. CompTox Chemicals Dashboard Chemical Lists
  13. 2-Fluoro-N-methyl-4-[7-[(quinolin-6-yl)methyl]imidazo[1,2-b]-[1,2,4]triazin-2-yl]benzamide
    2-Fluoro-N-methyl-4-[7-[(quinolin-6-yl)methyl]imidazo[1,2-b]-[1,2,4]triazin-2-yl]benzamide
  14. LICENSE
    The data used in DGIdb is all open access and where possible made available as raw data dumps in the downloads section.
  15. Guide to Pharmacology Target Classification
  16. NCI Thesaurus Tree
  17. PubChem
  18. LICENSE
    Academic users may freely use the KEGG website. Non-academic use of KEGG generally requires a commercial license
    Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification
    Target-based classification of drugs
  19. LICENSE
    Data: CC-BY 4.0; Code (hosted by ECI, LCSB): Artistic-2.0
    NORMAN Suspect List Exchange Classification

RX Medical Knowledge Graph

Explore this medical topic

Continue through verified related conditions, investigations, medicines, and patient guides. These links are educational and do not replace professional medical advice.

RX Clinical Pathway Engine

Continue through a complete learning pathway

Move from understanding the topic to symptoms, tests, treatment, medicines, monitoring, and prevention.

Search the complete library
  1. Understand the condition Begin with the essential facts and a clear explanation of the topic.
  2. Recognize symptoms Learn common symptoms, signs, and patterns of presentation.
  3. Know when to seek help Review urgent warning signs and when professional assessment may be needed.
  4. Understand causes and risks Explore causes, risk factors, mechanisms, and contributing conditions.
  5. Explore tests and diagnosis Learn how clinicians assess the condition and which investigations may be discussed.
  6. Learn treatment approaches Review general treatment categories and management principles.
  7. Understand medicines safely Continue to medicine education, uses, precautions, and monitoring.
  8. Plan monitoring and follow-up Understand monitoring, complications, rehabilitation, and follow-up learning.
  9. Review prevention and self-care Explore prevention, healthy routines, and questions to discuss with a clinician.

Conditions & Diseases

Background, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and care.

Explore this library

Tests & Investigations

Laboratory, imaging, screening, and diagnostic education.

Explore this library

Medicines

Uses, safety, monitoring, and related medicine knowledge.

Explore this library

Cancer Knowledge

Cancer types, screening, oncology, and treatment education.

Explore this library
Doctor visit helper

Prepare before seeing a doctor

A simple rural-patient checklist to help you explain symptoms clearly, ask better questions, and avoid unsafe self-treatment.

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

  • Write when the problem started and how it changed.
  • Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
  • Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
  • Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
  • Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
  • How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
  • When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

  • Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
  • Basic physical examination by a clinician
  • CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
  • Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
  • Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

  • Avoid heavy lifting, sudden bending, and prolonged bed rest.
  • Use comfortable posture and gentle movement as tolerated.
  • Discuss physiotherapy, X-ray, or MRI only when clinically needed.

OTC medicine safety

  • For mild back pain, pain-relief medicine may be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist.
  • Avoid repeated painkiller use if you have kidney disease, stomach ulcer, uncontrolled blood pressure, or are taking blood thinners.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
  • Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
  • Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

  • Back pain with leg weakness, numbness around private area, loss of urine/stool control, fever, cancer history, or major injury needs urgent care.
Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Orthopedic / spine specialist, physical medicine doctor, or qualified clinician
Tests to discuss with doctor
  • Neurological examination for leg power, sensation, reflexes, and straight leg raise
  • X-ray only if injury, deformity, long-lasting pain, or doctor suspects bone problem
  • MRI discussion if severe nerve symptoms, weakness, bladder/bowel problem, or persistent symptoms
Questions to ask
  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
  • Which tests are really needed now?
  • Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?
  • Is physiotherapy, posture correction, or activity modification needed?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Safe pathway to proper treatment

Care roadmap for: Capmatinib – Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interaction

Use this simple roadmap to understand the next safe steps. It is educational and does not replace examination by a doctor.

Go to emergency care if you notice:
  • Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
  • Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration
Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.
  1. Step 1

    Check danger signs first

    If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.

  2. Step 2

    Record the symptom story

    Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.

  3. Step 3

    Visit a qualified clinician

    A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.

  4. Step 4

    Do only useful tests

    Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.

  5. Step 5

    Follow up and return early if worse

    If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips
  • Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
  • Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
  • Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.