If this is not your name, click here.
| | If this is not your name, click here. | | |
| | Contact Us | Order Now | Journals | Bookstore | Register a colleague | | |
| |  South Africa Approves Natural Human Alpha Interferon For Treatment Of Leukemia PLANTATION, FL -- March 10, 2003 -- Viragen Inc. (Amex: VRA) and Viragen International, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: VGNI) today announced the approval of its natural human alpha interferon for sale in South Africa. The South African regulatory authorities approved an application filed by Viragen's distribution partner in that country, Key Oncologics Ltd. Viragen has granted Key Oncologics the exclusive rights to distribute the drug in South Africa and an initial product order has been placed. Terms were not disclosed. The South African regulatory approval allows for the treatment of patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who did not respond to recombinant (synthetic) interferon regimens. Additional applications have been filed to broaden the drug's indications to include the treatment of viral and malignant diseases including hepatitis C and cancer. "We are pleased that Key Oncologics has joined our growing list of respected international strategic partners," stated Viragen's Executive Vice President, Mel Rothberg. "We are preparing to deliver an initial order to South Africa as we continue to expand our global strategy to grow our natural interferon sales program." Magriet De Wet, President of Key Oncologics, stated, "We are planning to launch the product this month at a prestigious South African Oncology Conference expected to be attended by more than 200 oncologists from around the country. We expect that natural interferon will offer an alternative therapy for those patients that do not respond to or relapse from recombinant interferon regimens." Key Oncologics is a South African biotechnology company that specializes and focuses on covering all needs related to cancer and infectious disease therapies. The company has licensing agreements with several leading drug developers including Chiron and Gilead Sciences. The agreement with Viragen provides that Key Oncologics shall take all measures necessary to obtain and maintain the appropriate regulatory approvals including responsibility for all associated costs in South Africa. 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 human natural alpha interferon, monoclonal antibodies, peptide drugs and therapeutic vaccines. Viragen's strategy also includes the development of Avian Transgenic Technology for the large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing of its portfolio of protein-based drugs, as well as offering Contract Manufacturing for the entire biopharmaceutical industry. 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, National Institutes of Health, 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 our Web site at: http://www.Viragen.com The foregoing press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by such terminology such as "expects," "potential," "suggests," "may," "will," 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.
|
