FDA approves Roche pharmaceutical skin cancer drug Zelboraf

The U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration FDA announced on Wednesday that it approves Roche's new drug, Zelboraf, for the treatment of advanced skin cancer.

The report pointed out that the Federal Food and Drug Administration approved the sales process, including the drug brand name Zelboraf and its counterparts, to determine the diagnosis process of patients with specific mutations that would benefit from the efficacy of this drug. According to data provided by Roche Pharmaceuticals, about half of the malignant melanomas have the genetic aberration characteristic of this drug. Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Roche Pharmaceutical submitted its application for Zelboraf in April this year. The Federal Food and Drug Administration plans to make a decision on the application by October 28. The analysis points out that by 2015, Zelboraf will bring 732 million U.S. dollars in sales revenue annually to Roche Pharmaceuticals.

In March of this year, the Federal Food and Drug Administration of the United States approved for the first time Yervoy, a drug sold by Squibb that can help patients with advanced melanoma to extend their lives.