Roche’s Erivedge approved for use in UK

Roche has received the regulatory green light to launch its new advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) drug Erivedge (vismodegib) in the UK.

Originally developed by Curis, the therapy has been cleared for sale and is also to be listed in the national Cancer Drugs Fund, allowing patients in England to secure funding for treatment even before the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approves the product.

Advanced BCC is also known as Gorlin syndrome and is the most common type of skin cancer in the UK, affecting up to 700 people in the country each year.

Clinical evidence has shown that the drug is effective in reducing visible lesions and improving survival rates among sufferers.

Consultant dermatologist Dr John Lear of the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust said: "Vismodegib, which has been shown to shrink tumours, is a welcomed new treatment option for patients with advanced BCC and should provide them with a promising new outlook."

This comes after the drug was granted a conditional approval by the European Commission last month.