Novartis says combination drug trial for skin cancer significantly ups survival

Swiss drug major Novartis (VX: NOVN) said a Phase III combination study for skin cancer has shown a significant overall survival benefit for patients.

The patients were treated with a combination of Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekinist (trametinib) against vemurafenib monotherapy.

Caroline Robert,  head of Dermatology, Institute Gustave-Roussy, said: "It is remarkable to see so many patients with BRAF V600E/K mutation-positive metastatic melanoma having long term responses and obtaining a significant decrease of the risk of death as compared with vemurafenib monotherapy. This is the second Phase III trial of Tafinlar + Mekinist combination therapy to demonstrate a significant overall survival benefit over BRAF inhibitor monotherapy, further establishing Tafinlar + Mekinist as a standard of care for patients fighting BRAF V600 mutation-positive metastatic melanoma.”