Array BioPharma said the FDA approval for the combo treatment was based on the findings of the phase 3 COLUMBUS trial. In the late-stage trial, the combination treatment was shown to have doubled median progression-free survival (mPFS), in comparison to vemurafenib monotherapy.
The Braftovi/Mektovi combination was also shown to have cut down the risk of death compared to daily treatment with vemurafenib 960mg in the planned analysis of overall survival (OS) from the COLUMBUS trial, said Array BioPharma.
On the other hand, median OS for the combo treatment was 33.6 months compared to 16.9 months registered by the patients who were on vemurafenib monotherapy.
Array BioPharma CEO Ron Squarer said that the FDA approval of Braftovi + Mektovi will help fill a critical unmet need for patients suffering from advanced BRAF-mutant melanoma.
Squarer added: “As presented at ASCO, Braftovi + Mektovi is the first targeted treatment to demonstrate over 30 months median overall survival in a Phase 3 trial.
“These products represent a new standard of care for BRAF-mutant melanoma patients and we sincerely thank the patients and dedicated researchers who participated in our clinical program.”
Array BioPharma said that Braftovi + Mektovi can be ordered through select specialty pharmacies in the US market.
While Braftovi is an oral small molecule BRAF kinase inhibitor, MektovI is an oral small molecule MEK inhibitor. Both the drugs are said to target key enzymes in the MAPK signaling pathway (RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK).
Array BioPharma said that inappropriate activation of proteins in the pathway has been known to occur in several cancers like melanoma, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, thyroid and others.
Image: Braftovi (encorafenib) capsules. Photo: courtesy of Array BioPharma Inc.