Roche’s Zelboraf wins 2013 Swiss Prix Galien for pharmaceutical innovation

Roche has been awarded this year’s prestigious Swiss Prix Galien for Zelboraf (vemurafenib), a medicine used to treat malignant melanoma, the most aggressive and a deadly form of skin cancer. Zelboraf is used with a companion diagnostic test that enables doctors to identify patients likely to respond to treatment.

While melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers, it is normally curable if detected early. Once it has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body, however, it is fatal. The life expectancy of people with metastatic melanoma is generally short, with only about 25% of patients surviving for at least one year after diagnosis. Zelboraf is the only personalised medicine shown in pivotal clinical trials to significantly extend the survival of both previously treated and previously untreated patients with advanced malignant melanoma.

For over 40 years the prestigious Galien prizes have been awarded annually for outstanding advances in pharmaceutical research. In addition to a number of national Galien awards, there is also an international prize. Commenting on this year’s Swiss award, jury member Professor Christian Ludwig said: ‘The Swiss Prix Galien jury regards Zelboraf as an impressive example of effective, targeted drug development. Thanks to a companion diagnostic test, doctors can identify the patients most likely to benefit from treatment. Roche developed both the test and the medicine and brought them to market within a short time. That’s impressive.’

Also commenting on the award, Manfred Heinzer, General Manager of Roche Pharma (Switzerland) Ltd. noted: ‘Zelboraf is a milestone in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma. And having a drug-diagnostic combination receive this kind of recognition for innovation is a great success for Roche.’ more

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