Bounty from the sea - potential antineoplastic agents discovered

&

At present, the seas are an untapped resource for the pharmaceutical industry, but this may not be the case for long. Several companies have begun to show interest in the pharmacological properties of chemicals extracted from marine life and some, such as the Spanish company Pharma Mar, are actively investigating hundreds of potential agents. The results of preclinical studies with several of Pharma Mar’s leading marine-derived candidates were presented at the European Cancer Conference [ Paris, France; October/November 1995 ], along with data from studies of new antineoplastic agents from other sources.