GlaxoSmithKline receives CHMP backing for cancer drugs

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that two new drugs from its oncology portfolio have been granted recommendations by Europe's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).

The European Medicines Agency committee has endorsed the use of Tafinlar as a potential treatment for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation.

It has also backed Tyverb for approval as a therapy for adults with breast cancer whose tumours overexpress HER2 and whose hormone receptor-negative metastatic disease has progressed despite receiving other treatments.

A CHMP recommendation is one of the final steps in the process towards a full marketing authorisation from the European Commission.

Dr Rafael Amado, head of oncology research and development at GlaxoSmithKline, said: "They could bring new treatment options for European patients living with specific types of advanced breast cancer and melanoma."

This comes after the firm received a recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for its chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura therapy Revolade.