PLANTATION, Fla., May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Viragen, Inc.
(Amex: VRA) today announced that the Swedish Medical Products Agency (MPA) has
approved extending the shelf-life of Multiferon(TM) to 18 months from its
previously approved labeling of 12 months. Additionally, the Company reports
that it has initiated a new sales and marketing campaign for Multiferon in
Sweden. The campaign promotes the theme "Multiferon -- the natural choice,"
highlighting its natural source (human leukocytes), its competitive attributes
and its approved uses in Sweden.
"It is our priority objective to increase sales of Multiferon around the
world," stated Viragen's President and CEO, Mr. Charles A. Rice. "The
prolonged shelf-life provides us with increased flexibility in production and
distribution, and we are working to implement this new labeling in our
existing and pending markets. Through our own sales staff in Sweden, our
growing network of international distributors and our evolving strategy for
the future of the product, we expect Multiferon to become recognized as a
leading brand of natural alpha interferon."
The print advertising campaign will debut in a series of Scandinavian and
Swedish medical publications, including Acta Oncologica, a leading journal in
clinical oncology and the official journal of the five Nordic oncological
societies.
For a preview of the Multiferon advertising campaign, please visit:
http://www.Viragen.com/multiferonad.htm .
About Alpha Interferon:
The majority of alpha interferons that are marketed are single-subtype
recombinant interferons. Therapy resistance is not unusual with recombinant
interferons in a significant percentage of patients failing to respond to
standard therapy. In some instances, recombinant interferon is rejected by
the patient's immune system, usually caused by the formation of neutralizing
antibodies, which may lead to a loss of clinical efficacy. Also, many
patients cannot tolerate the adverse side effects sometimes associated with
recombinant therapy. High doses of recombinant interferon may cause serious,
even life-threatening side effects.
About Multiferon(TM):
Multiferon is a highly purified, multi-subtype, natural human alpha
interferon derived from human white blood cells and is approved in Sweden for
the second-line treatment of any and all diseases in which patients show an
initial response to recombinant (synthetic) alpha interferon followed by
treatment failure, probably due to the formation of neutralizing antibodies.
Viragen's natural interferon is also approved for sale in the following
countries for the treatment of a range of viral and malignant diseases: Czech
Republic, Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mexico, Myanmar, South Africa and
Thailand. Work is ongoing to expand the approved indications in these
countries. Regulatory approval processes are also underway in a number of
other South American, Middle East and Far East territories.
About Viragen, Inc.:
Viragen is a biotechnology company specializing in the research,
development and commercialization of natural and recombinant protein-based
drugs designed to treat a broad range of viral and malignant diseases. These
protein-based drugs include natural human alpha interferon, monoclonal
antibodies and a peptide drug. Viragen's strategy also includes the
development of Avian Transgenic Technology as a biomanufacturing platform for
the large-scale, cost-effective production of therapeutic proteins.
Viragen is publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange (VRA).
Viragen's majority owned subsidiary, Viragen International, Inc., is publicly
traded on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board (VGNI). Viragen's key partners
and licensors include: Roslin Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center, Cancer Research UK, University of Nottingham (U.K.), University of
Miami, America's Blood Centers and the German Red Cross.
For more information, please visit: http://www.Viragen.com
Viragen, Inc. Corporate Contact:
Douglas Calder, Director of Communications
Phone: (954) 233-8746; Fax: (954) 233-1414
E-mail: dcalder@viragen.com
The foregoing press announcement contains forward-looking statements that
can be identified by such terminology such as "expect," "potential,"
"suggests," "may," "will," "should," "could" or similar expressions. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such statements. In particular, management's expectations regarding future
research, development and/or commercial results could be affected by, among
other things, uncertainties relating to clinical trials and product
development; availability of future financing; unexpected regulatory delays or
government regulation generally; the Company's ability to obtain or maintain
patent and other proprietary intellectual property protection; and competition
in general. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are
made. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to
reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking
statements are made.
SOURCE Viragen, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.viragen.com
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010426/HSTH018LOGO-b
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Douglas Calder, Director of Communications of
Viragen, Inc., +1-954233-8746, or fax +1-954-233-1414, or e-mail
dcalder@viragen.com
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