Chiron Seeks OK for Melanoma Treatment

Chiron Corp. said it filed for U.S. approval to sell Proleukin, its drug for kidney cancer, as a treatment for advanced melanoma. Proleukin received Orphan Drug status from the Food and Drug Administration last September for treating metastatic, or advanced, melanoma. The status encourages companies to develop new treatments for relatively rare diseases by giving them additional years of marketing exclusivity. Emeryville-based Chiron said it expects Proleukin to be quickly approved by the FDA, which has simplified its rules for cancer drug approvals and sped up reviews. The FDA encouraged companies to file applications for new uses of existing cancer drugs because many already are used by doctors without the information that would come with formal approval. Shares of Chiron rose 44 cents to close at $18.56 on Nasdaq.