Exelixis Inc., of South San Francisco, reported that, based on data from a phase Ib dose escalation study of cobimetinib and atezolizumab in patients with metastatic melanoma, Basel, Switzerland-based Roche AG subsidiary Genentech Inc. plans to initiate a phase III pivotal trial of the combination vs. a PD-1 inhibitor in patients with previously untreated BRAF wild-type advanced melanoma next year.