New drug offers melanoma relief

Junshi Biosciences gets Chinese approval for emerging therapy to treat skin cancer

Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co Ltd has nabbed China's first approval for a homegrown anti-PD-1 treatment, an emerging cancer therapy that boosts the immune system to help the body to target and kill tumors.

Called Toripalimab, and designed for treating skin cancer melanoma, the Chinese treatment was conditionally approved by the National Medical Products Administration under priority review on Monday, about nine months after the company filed its new drug approval application.