Pfizer's combo therapy doubles survival for advanced colon cancer

Patients with advanced colon cancer experienced a doubling of survival time when treated with a Pfizer drug combination, according to a new clinical trial. The trial, published Friday, showed the three-drug combination, including Pfizer's Braftovi, significantly extended survival for patients with a specific BRAF V600E mutation, a mutation found in about 10% of colorectal cancer patients. The treatment was well-tolerated and showed a 30-month average survival compared to 15 months with standard chemotherapy. The FDA granted fast-track approval for the treatment as a first-line approach. Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the U.S., with over 141,000 new cases diagnosed annually.