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Plexxikon, a member of Daiichi Sankyo Group, has received European Commission approval for Zelboraf (vemurafenib) for the monotherapy treatment of adult patients with BRAF mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

Zelboraf is designed to selectively inhibit the BRAF mutation that occurs in about half of all cases of melanoma.

Zelboraf and its companion diagnostic, the cobas 4800 BRAF V600 mutation test, have been approved in the US, Switzerland, Israel, Brazil, New Zealand and Canada.

Plexxikon CEO Peter Hirth said the approval of Zelboraf by the European Commission marks a significant advancement for European patients with metastatic melanoma who historically have had very limited treatment options.

"We are very pleased that our strategy to co-develop Zelboraf along with a companion diagnostic helped accelerate the availability of this personalized medicine for these patients," Hirth added.