PLANTATION, Fla., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Viragen, Inc.
(Amex: VRA) today announced that data from its Phase II/III clinical study
evaluating Multiferon(R), natural human alpha interferon, for the adjuvant
treatment of malignant melanoma will be presented at the 6th World Congress on
Melanoma, to be held in Vancouver, Canada.
Presentation:
"Long Term Survival Benefit after Adjuvant Treatment of High-Risk Cutaneous
Melanoma with Dacarbazine and Low Dose Multiferon(R)"
When: Wednesday, September 7th, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Vancouver Convention Center
Speaker: Rudolf Stadler, M.D., Principal Investigator
Dept. of Dermatology, Academic Medical Centre, Germany
Professor Doctor Stadler will present the study results, which after seven
years of follow-up, showed a statistically significant increase in overall
survival for high-risk patients (Stage IIb, IIIa, IIIb) treated with adjuvant
dacarbazine (DTIC) followed by Multiferon(R), compared to patients with no
adjuvant treatment. Based on these results, Viragen filed an application in
Sweden seeking to approve Multiferon(R) for the first-line adjuvant treatment
of high-risk malignant melanoma. A decision is expected this year.
For those attending the event, please visit the Multiferon(R) exhibit,
located at Booth #42, in the exhibit hall.
About Malignant Melanoma:
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, accounting for more than
50% of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for approximately 4% of skin cancer
cases, but causes 79% of skin cancer deaths. About 132,000 people worldwide
are diagnosed with melanoma each year, and more than 37,000 die from the
disease annually. According to Decision Resources, current pharmaceutical
therapies are extremely toxic and ineffective in the majority of patients.
Any emerging therapy that can bring modest improvements in overall survival
and tolerability will revolutionize the treatment of malignant melanoma.
Decision Resources reports that the current worldwide melanoma
therapeutics market is estimated at $437 million and is expected to exceed
$1.1 billion worldwide by 2013.
About Alpha Interferon:
The majority of marketed alpha interferons are single-subtype recombinant
interferons. Therapy resistance is not unusual with recombinant interferons
as a significant percentage of patients fail to respond or are unable to
tolerate the adverse side effects commonly associated with high dosing, as is
commonly prescribed for melanoma treatment.
About Multiferon(R):
Multiferon(R) is a highly purified, multi-subtype, natural human alpha
interferon. Marketed as "the natural choice"(TM) in ten international markets
for the first-line or rescue therapy of a broad range of infectious diseases
and cancers, it is Viragen's goal to make Multiferon(R) the most widely
prescribed product of its kind in the world.
About Viragen, Inc.:
Viragen researches, develops and commercializes pharmaceutical products
designed to treat a broad range of viral and malignant diseases. These
protein-based drugs include: Multiferon(R), a natural human alpha interferon
approved for sale in ten countries; and humanized anti-cancer monoclonal
antibodies. Viragen is also pioneering the development of Avian Transgenic
Technology, with the renowned Roslin Institute, as a biomanufacturing platform
for the large-scale, efficient and economical production of therapeutic
proteins.
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," "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
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AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Douglas Calder, Director of Communications,
Viragen, Inc., +1-954-233-8746, or fax, +1-954-233-1414, or
dcalder@viragen.com
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