Novartis receives EU approval for new combination melanoma therapy

Novartis has been granted European regulatory approval for a new combination therapy for patients with aggressive forms of melanoma.

The European Commission has approved the combination of Tafinlar and Mekinist for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation.

This therapeutic approach has demonstrated improved overall survival versus the current standard of care with BRAF inhibitor monotherapy in two phase III studies, COMBI-d and COMBI-v.

It represents the first targeted therapy combination approved in the EU to treat patients with the most aggressive form of skin cancer.

Bruno Strigini, president of Novartis Oncology, said: "Today's EU approval further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to deliver medicines that can further enhance outcomes for patients with metastatic melanoma."

This comes after the firm received European regulatory approval for Odomzo, a new treatment for basal cell carcinoma.