Roche melanoma drug registers striking results

An experimental personalized cancer therapy from Roche and Plexxikon registered striking results in a recent clinical study, shrinking the tumors in a majority of metastatic melanoma patients who share a common genetic mutation. And a group of experts in the field are lauding the results, saying that the success of this study could help pave the way to one of the first new skin cancer therapies in some 20 years. Of the 16 terminal patients who share a mutation of the BRAF gene, 10 taking...

Benlysta, BMS melanoma drug win accelerated FDA review

Two of the most closely watched therapies now awaiting a final decision at the FDA won an accelerated regulatory review. Human Genome Sciences will have four months shaved off the usual review schedule for Benlysta, which could be the first new lupus drug to gain approval in half a century. The FDA has marked December 9th as its deadline on Benlysta. And Bristol-Myers Squibb has received a significant leg up in its quest to gain quick U.S. approval of ipilimumab for melanoma. The FDA has...

First human trial on melanoma vax ‘cure’

A group of researchers at Nottingham University in the U.K. are planning to launch a human trial of a new vaccine for metastatic melanoma. Lead researcher Professor Lindy Durrant says that the vaccine contains DNA and tumor fragments so that it will activate only specific immune cells rather than the entire immune system....