Roche reports positive data from vemurafenib trial

Roche has published positive new data from a phase III clinical trial of its investigational drug vemurafenib, a new personalised treatment for melanoma.

Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, the study results show that vemurafenib improved overall survival rates among patients with previously untreated BRAF V600 mutation-positive metastatic melanoma, compared to chemotherapy.

It also offered a superior rate of progression-free survival and an encouraging safety profile, meaning the primary efficacy endpoints of the study were met.

Vemurafenib is specifically designed to treat those with the mutant BRAF protein – which is found in around half of all melanoma cases – and functions in tandem with the new cobas 4800 BRAF V600 Mutation Test from Roche.

Dr Hal Barron, chief medical officer and head of global product development at Roche, said: "We will continue to work closely with regulatory authorities to seek approval for vemurafenib and its companion diagnostic test."

Roche is now working with Bristol-Myers Squibb to test a new combination of vemurafenib and its partner's drug Yervoy against certain melanoma types.