Bristol-Myers Squibb and Roche to trial new drug combination

Bristol-Myers Squibb is to partner Roche on investigations into a new combination drug therapy involving two of their compounds.

The cross-company collaboration will see Bristol-Myers Squibb's CTLA-4 inhibitor Yervoy combined with Roche's new oral BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib, for the treatment of a certain variation of metastatic melanoma.

This agreement will involve a phase I/II trial programme to evaluate the combination's potential efficacy and safety, with further development to be conducted by the companies if it is deemed appropriate.

Brian Daniels, senior vice-president for development and medical affairs at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: "We are excited to be working with Roche to evaluate the potential that together Yervoy and vemurafenib could improve outcomes for melanoma patients."

Last month, Yervoy received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, endorsing its approval as a therapy option for previously-treated unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

A final decision from the European Commission on the drug is now expected by August 2011.