Amgen Cancer Drug Receives European OK

Amgen Inc. announced Monday that the European Commission has approved Imlygic, a first of its kind cancer drug, to treat adults with melanoma. The Thousand Oaks biotech’s drug costs $65,000 for a series of treatments. In October, the Food and Drug Administration approved it for use in the U.S. Imlygic is made from the herpes simplex virus and is the first cancer immunotherapy proven to benefit patients with metastatic melanoma. The modified virus is injected into tumors, where it can replicate and prompt an anti-tumor immune response. “The approval of Imlygic is an important milestone for this new class of drugs, bringing patients with a rare and deadly form of skin cancer a much needed new treatment option,” Dr. Sean E. Harper, Amgen’s executive vice president of research and development, said in a statement. Amgen shares closed Wednesday up 42 cents or a fraction of a percent to $162.72 on the Nasdaq.