(RTTNews) - Novartis (NVS) said that that a late-stage study, which evaluated the investigational immunotherapy spartalizumab in combination with Tafinlar and Mekinist, did not meet its primary endpoint for patients with advanced skin cancer.
The Phase III COMBI-i study did not improve progression-free survival in previously untreated patients with BRAF V600 mutation-positive cutaneous melanoma, compared to Tafinlar + Mekinist alone, the company said in a statement.
However, the company said it remains committed to exploring new uses for immunotherapy in cancer treatment, including the ongoing development of spartalizumab, across a range of tumor types.
Novartis noted that Tafinlar and Mekinist are prescription medicines that can be used in combination to treat people with a type of skin cancer called melanoma.
Tafinlar and Mekinist are also prescription medications that can be used in combination to treat a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Tafinlar and Mekinist are prescription medications that can be used in combination to treat a type of thyroid cancer called anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Novartis warned that Tafinlar, in combination with Mekinist, should not be used to treat people with wild-type BRAF melanoma. Mekinist should not be used to treat people who already have received a BRAF inhibitor for treatment of their melanoma and it did not work or is no longer working.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
