British Firm Says Curry Pills May Prevent Cancer

January 10, 2001

>"Ashok Chowgule"

>

>British Firm Says Curry Pills May Prevent Cancer >Tue, 9 Jan

2001 20:01:44 +0530 > >British Firm Says Curry Pills May Prevent Cancer >Jan 8

7:42am ET > By Ben Hirschler > >LONDON (Reuters) - An Indian spice used in

curry might help prevent and >treat bowel cancer, British biotechnology firm

Phytopharm Plc. said >Monday. > >Richard Dixey, chief executive of the company

which specializes in >developing medicines from plants, said turmeric-based

food supplement >pills against the disease could go on sale later this year,

initially in >the United States. > >Phytopharm's P54 product works by

inhibiting the production of an >enzyme, cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2), involved in

inflammation and certain >cancers. > >It was tested on 15 patients suffering

from advanced colorectal cancer >in a dose escalation trial carried out in

conjunction with the >University of Leicester. > >"The results of this trial

appear to confirm that P54 is able to inhibit >COX-2 and may have a role in

both the prevention of colon cancer and, >possibly, could form part of a

treatment regimen for established >disease," said lead investigator School

Professor Will Steward from the >University of Leicester. > >Phytopharm's

shares rose 1.5 percent to 881-1/2 pence by 1200 GMT >following the

announcement, just short of their record 887p reached last >week. > >Dixey told

Reuters he was discussing commercialization of P54 for the >prevention of bowel

cancer with three companies, with the aim of >developing a natural product for

sale as a health food. "Our view is >that it is probably more appropriate as a

nutriceutical or medicinal >food market than as a prescription drug," he said.

> >Phytopharm believes its curry cancer pills could retail for around $1 a

>day, targeting a global market of around 10 million people who have >colonic

polyps, small growths that may presage bowel cancer. > >Dixey said eating a

diet high in turmeric would not have the same >beneficial effects as taking the

pills since the dried cooking spice >lacked the vital volatile oils which gave

P54 most of its potency. >Phytopharm is also developing P54 as a prescription

drug for >inflammatory bowel disease and as a veterinary product for arthritis

in >dogs. > > > > > > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at

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