GlaxoSmithKline stops melanoma drug trial early after positive results

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that its clinical study of a new melanoma drug will be brought to an early end based on the strong results recorded thus far.

An independent data monitoring committee has recommended that COMBI-v – a phase III study assessing a combination of GlaxoSmithKline's Mekinist plus Tafinlar for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma – should be stopped early.

The combination has been shown to offer a clear overall survival benefit compared to an approved alternative therapy among patients with BRAF V600E or V600K mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic forms of cutaneous melanoma.

Eligible study patients who were randomised to the control arm will now be allowed to cross over to receive treatment with the investigational combination.

Dr Rafael Amado, head of oncology research and development at GlaxoSmithKline, said: "We will continue to analyse this data versus vemurafenib over the coming months and look forward to sharing these with the scientific community once the analysis is complete."

This comes after Mekinist was approved as a single agent for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation earlier this month.