Array BioPharma Inc. said a combination of two of its investigational drugs was better at keeping patients with a certain type of skin cancer alive when compared to Genentech Inc.'s Zelboraf.
The Boulder, Colo.-based biotechnology company is evaluating a combination of encorafenib and binimetinib in melanoma patients with a mutation in their BRAF gene under a late-stage trial known as Columbus.
Based on the results of a planned analysis of the phase 3 study, patients who received Array's treatment survived, on average, for 33.6 months compared to 16.9 months for patients treated with Zelboraf, also known as vemurafenib.
A group of patients also received encorafenib alone. These patients survived, on average, for 23.5 months.
About half of all melanomas have changes, or mutations, in the BRAF gene. Melanoma cells with these changes make an altered BRAF protein that helps them grow. Drugs that target the BRAF protein, such as those Array is investigating, are not likely to work in patients whose melanomas have a normal BRAF gene.
Array BioPharma has exclusive rights to market the combination in the U.S. where it is under review. Pierre Fabre Medicament SA, which can market binimetinib in the EU, Switzerland and Australia, recently withdrew its marketing authorization applications in the regions for unspecified reasons.
Genentech is a Roche Holding AG subsidiary.
