Ribi ImmunoChem Inc. on Tuesday said it plans to expand its melanoma theraccinemanufacturing facility.

The 8,600 square-foot addition will increase by 50-fold the Hamilton, Mont.,company’s capacity to produce the melanoma tumor cell antigens and adjuvantcomponents used to make Melacine, the company said. Construction is scheduled to begin inthe third quarter of this year.

Melacine is in Phase III trials to confirm whether it extends survival overchemotherapy for patients with stage IV disseminated melanoma, Ribi said.