Novartis´promising cancer treatment will not make the cut

Novartis (NYSE: NVS) announced on Saturday that the Phase III COMBI-i study, evaluating the investigative immunotherapy spartalizumab (PDR001) in combination with Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekinist (trametinib), had its primary endpoint, has not achieved progression-free survival in patients with advanced BRAF V600 mutant melanoma. The COMBI-i study was carried out in three parts. The reported results are from Part 3 of the study. The company will continue to review the data collected, despite the finding, and investigate immunotherapy with other cancer drugs.