Skin cancer vaccine trialled

An Australian-developed melanoma treatment could be available in hospitals within five years after a number of terminal patients in early trials had been declared free of the disease.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie told Bio2003 in Washington phase three trials of the anti-melanoma vaccine were under way - the final hurdle before the product could be registered.

"Queensland is leading the way in the global race to find a treatment for this very malignant skin cancer," Mr Beattie said in a statement.

The human trials follow recent registration by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia's drug regulator, allowing the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) to produce and supply drugs for use in phase one, two and three trials.

The melanoma trial's principal investigator Chris Schmidt said the latest placebo-controlled trial would treat 200 patients with melanoma from around Queensland.