In clinical trials on patients with refractory cutaneous T celllymphoma (CTCL), Seragen Inc.'s second-generationinterleukin-2 (IL-2) fusion toxin was able to induce completeor partial tumor reduction in five of 11 seriously ill patients, allof whom had been refractory to standard therapy.

Francine Foss, an assistant professor of medicine at BostonUniversity Medical Center, presented these Phase I/II resultson Friday at the Second International Symposium on CutaneousT-Cell Lymphoma at Northwestern University Medical School inChicago.

The compound, which Seragen (NASDAQ:SRGN) of Hopkinton,Mass., calls DAB389IL-2, is apparently more effective than itspredecessor, first-generation DAB486IL-2.

"A higher percentage of CTCL patients responded to the newfusion toxin than to Seragen's first IL-2 fusion toxin tested inlymphoma patients," Foss said. As well, "because the newversion (of the fusion toxin) is better tolerated, we have beenable to administer higher doses," added Thasia Woodworth,Seragen's vice president for clinical affairs.

Patients are still being enrolled in the current Phase I/II study,and Seragen intends to report additional data from the trial inDecember at the American Society of Hematology Meeting.

Seragen's stock lost $1 a share on Friday, closing at $10.

-- Jennifer Van Brunt Senior Editor

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