Novartis’ Tafinlar/Mekinist combo adds new skin cancer indication

Last week, the NMPA also approved Novartis’ Tafinlar/Mekinist as an adjuvant treatment for melanoma patients whose tumors have a mutation known as BRAF V600E. China first approved the combo therapy for treating unresectable or metastatic melanoma of this kind last December.

Compared to some countries in the West, melanoma is relatively uncommon in China, though the number of cases is increasing every year. In addition to chemotherapy, and immunotherapy options like anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4 drugs, the NMPA has also approved Genentech’s Zelboraf for patients with the BRAF V600E mutation.