GSK GSK plc

By Rory Gallivan

LONDON--GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK.LN) has been given approval by the European Commission to market the drug Mekinist as a treatment for some patients with melanoma, a skin cancer.

The pharmaceutical company said Friday that it has received marketing authorization for Mekinist "as a single agent in the treatment of adult patients with unresectable [a tumor that can't be removed through surgery] or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation."

Shares at 1128 GMT, down 6 pence, or 0.4%, at 1,577 pence valuing the company at 76.4 billion pounds ($131 million).

Write to Rory Gallivan at rory.gallivan@wsj.com; Twitter: @RoryGallivan

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires