Viragen's published study results show Multiferon well-tolerated, effective in treatment of melanoma

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., June 20 - An article published in the European journal Acta Oncologica about a recent Viragen, Inc. study said decarbazine/Multiferon was well-tolerated and beneficial to survival in patients with high-risk (stages 2b to 3) malignant melanoma.

Results were particularly significant in patients with deep and/or metastasizing stages of melanoma, but still free from distant metastases, according to a company news release.

In the prospective, controlled, randomized, multicenter study, 252 patients with totally resected cutaneous melanoma were treated with either two doses of dacarbazine (DTIC) followed by a six-month treatment with 3 MU thrice weekly of highly purified natural interferon-alpha, or received no adjuvant treatment.

A median follow-up of 8.5 years showed that the difference in survival was statistically significant with respect to melanoma-related deaths and close to significance with respect to overall survival.

Viragen said Multiferon was approved in February for sale in Sweden as a first-line adjuvant treatment of high-risk malignant melanoma following dacarbazine after surgical removal of tumors.

"Our partnering discussions continue at an accelerated pace, and we are encouraged at the level of interest, particularly with respect to the melanoma indication," president and chief executive officer Charles A. Rice said in the release.

Located in Plantation, Fla., Viragen researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes pharmaceutical proteins for the treatment of viral diseases and cancers.

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