Health Canada approves GSK's Tafinlar, Mekinist

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Canadian regulators have approved two drugs made by GlaxoSmithKline for treating skin cancer, GSK said Wednesday.

The drug maker announced Health Canada's approval of Tafinlar (dabrafenib mesylate) and Mekinist (trametinib) in patients with melanoma that can't be removed by surgery or has spread to other parts of the body.

"Health Canada's approvals of Tafinlar and Mekinist represent an important step in GSK's ongoing effort to bring new treatment options to cancer patients as quickly and efficiently as possible," GSK Canada VP research and development operations, and business development Rav Kumar said. "With Tafinlar and Mekinist, we hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients living with metastatic melanoma, a devastating disease with very low survival rates and limited treatment options."

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