New Melanoma Vaccine Could Be Offered In Canada By March

Ribi ImmunoChem could have its new melanoma vaccine on Canadian markets by March, an official for the Hamilton pharmaceutical company said.

Melacine, the company’s submission for a melanoma vaccine, has cleared a 45-day preliminary review by the Canadian Health Protection Branch, said Vern Child, Ribi’s vice president for finance. That cleared the way for a six-month “fast track” review of the drug.

“They have six months to do the detailed review,” Child said “So it could be approved as early as March 1998 and available for sale not far after that.”