Study Says Zelboraf Nearly Doubles Survival Times

An international phase II study of the drug showed that the patients survived an average of 15.9 months, compared with nine months on conventional treatment.

Scientists have revealed that the newly-approved Zelboraf (Vemurafenib) nearly doubles median survival times of people with metastatic melanoma.

An international phase II study of the drug, developed by Roche and Plexxikon, involved 132 patients with an advanced form of melanoma that has spread to other organs. Results showed that the patients survived an average of 15.9 months, compared with nine months on conventional treatment.

Dr Antoni Ribas, a professor of hematology/oncology and a researcher at the University of Los Angeles' Jonsson Cancer Center, said, "This data is beyond what I would have expected. We're seeing a significant number of patients with durable responses to the drug, and that the whole group of treated patients is livi