Latest news

• Novartis gets lung cancer OK for Tafinlar/Mekinist combo

  The European Commission has cleared BRAF inhibitor Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and MEK inhibitor Mekinist (trametinib) for patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose tumours bear the BRAF V600 mutation.

• J&J gets CHMP backing for broader Darzalex use

  CHMP round-up. At its meeting last week the CHMP also gave its blessing to the combination of Novartis' Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekinist (trametinib) in BRAF-positive non-small cell lung

• The UK's new Cancer Drugs Fund

  Gaining the greenlight were Novartis' Zykadia (ceritinib) for lung cancer and melanoma combination Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekinist (trametinib), and Servier's Lonsurf (trifluridine/tipiracil HCl) for bowel cancer.

• Roche's melanoma combo "too expensive" for NHS use, says NICE

  NICE's decision hands an advantage in the UK market to Novartis' similar combination of MEK inhibitor Mekinist (trametinib) and BRAF inhibitor Tafinlar (dabrafenib), a duo which was acquired from GlaxoSmithKline

• Controversial new CDF promises "clearer, faster decision-making"

  The four new drugs added to the CDF are Novartis' Zykadia (ceritinib) for lung cancer and melanoma combination Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekinist (trametinib), and Servier's Lonsurf (trifluridine/tipiracil HCl) for