Deals open the way for aminomic supplements
imbalances that underpin the symptoms of some serious diseases, are
expected to reach the market next year following two deals struck
by developer the Canadian Cancer Research Group (CCRG).
It has licensed the intellectual property behind the approach to biotechnology company Immune System Management (ISM), which is currently rolling it up into production. ISM will market the products in conjunction with Purity Professionals, with whom CCRG has signed a C$20 million, five-year deal.
CCRG's approach to cancer is outside of the mainstream; while some patients claim to have benefited, its practices have drawn fierce criticism from some members of the medical community.
William O'Neill, founder and CEO of the CCRG, told NutraIngredients-USA.com that aminomics have been used at the Ottawa clinic for the past 15 years.
Its roots, he explained, are in genomics. We are all born with the required DNA scripted, but when an error occurs in how the body scripts amino acids into protein, that will percolate up and appear in the patient as a disease symptom - whether it be non-life threatening, such as hair loss or loss of eye sight, or threatening, such as cancer or multiple sclerosis.
CCRG says that plasma levels of amino acids can be measured and corrected through an amino-acid based therapeutic, and ensuring the body has all the nutritive elements it needs.
"We diagnose and treat not so much the disease itself as the underpinning of it," said O'Neill.
He said that his team has looked at thousands of blueprints and documented common inconsistencies, which have allowed for the developement of off-the-shelf nutraceutical products. These will be introduced in pharmacies and health food stores in Canada and the US in 2006. The component nutraceuticals have been submitted to Health Canada's Natural Health Product Directorate, and two have already been approved.
The retail products will not make disease cure or prevention claims, but will be labeled as for people who have breast, prostate or colorectal cancer, or for general wellness. O'Neill also expects that the products will be sold globally; there has been considerable interest in the approach in Asia and Europe, particularly Germany.
As to potential, he said it is "inestimable", but Purity Professionals has the capacity to meet demand - whether it be 100 bottles a day or 500,000.
Eoghan O'Shea, medical director for ISM, co-authored a study which showed "significant positive response rates" in disease remission, stabilization and quality of life in 95 percent of prostate cancer patients when given supplements to target specific amino acid imbalances.
A full paper on the study has been submitted for publication to a peer reviewed journal.
