Capmatinib

MET inhibitors
MET inhibitors
High alert
An error with this medicine can cause serious harm: double checks and protocols are used.
Pregnancy: avoid
Avoid in pregnancy. Capmatinib may harm the fetus: a pregnancy test is done first, women and men use contraception during treatment and for a week after, and breastfeeding is…

An oral MET inhibitor for lung cancer with MET exon 14 skipping. Watch for leg swelling, lung inflammation, liver injury and sun sensitivity.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

Quick facts

Group: MET inhibitors
Target: MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) tyrosine kinase
Key effects: Swelling of the legs and hands · Nausea · Fatigue
Monitor: MET exon 14 test before starting · Liver tests
ATC: L01EP01

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

Mechanism of action

MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) tyrosine kinaseCapmatinib

The crystal shows capmatinib in the ATP site of normal (wild-type) human MET kinase.

Target in 3D: MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) tyrosine kinase. PDB structure 9SXJ (RCSB PDB, public domain). View the structure at RCSB PDB

Skipping of exon 14 removes the part of MET that normally lets the cell tag and destroy the receptor, so MET accumulates and signals constantly. Capmatinib binds the ATP site of MET very selectively and blocks its signalling, so MET-dependent lung cancer cells stop growing.

Capmatinib binds the ATP site of MET
MET signalling (RAS and PI3K pathways) stops
MET-driven lung cancer cells stop growing

Indications

Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose tumour has a MET exon 14 skipping mutation. Lung cancer →

Adverse effects

Common

Swelling of the legs and hands (peripheral oedema)
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation
Fatigue, decreased appetite
Muscle, bone or back pain
Breathlessness, rash

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to capmatinib

Key interactions

St John's wort: Can lower capmatinib levels; avoided.

What is monitored

MET exon 14 test before starting
Liver tests
Amylase and lipase
New cough, fever or breathlessness

Administration and safety

Oral tablets swallowed whole, not split, chewed or crushed.
If vomiting follows a dose, no extra dose is taken.
Sun protection: clothing, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Avoid in pregnancy. Capmatinib may harm the fetus: a pregnancy test is done first, women and men use contraception during treatment and for a week after, and breastfeeding is stopped.

Nursing care

Teach to report new cough, fever or breathlessness at once.
Teach the signs of liver injury and pancreatitis.
Monitor weight and limb swelling.
Teach sun protection; contraception during treatment and for a week after.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Oral tablets twice a day, with or without food.

Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

Which genetic change in lung cancer is treated with capmatinib?

MET exon 14 skipping.

What is the most common adverse effect of MET inhibitors?

Peripheral oedema.

Which pulmonary toxicity must be recognised quickly?

Interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis.

Add to my cards (3)

Connections

← Back to the class: MET inhibitors

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: Capmatinib: MedlinePlus Drug Information (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2022); Capmatinib Hydrochloride - NCI (National Cancer Institute, 2022); RCSB PDB - 9SXJ: Crystal structure of wild-type c-MET bound by capmatinib. (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2026); ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.