trials, page-11

Why is it so amazing that an effective
cancer drug can be derived from a weed?
Hundreds of drugs are derived from plants. Remember that the mother drug of sbpoo2, BEC 'Curaderm' is already approved in Australia and can be purchased by prescription.

BEC in a topical cream formulation (Curaderm) has been available in Australia since August 1991 (AUST R 14345). The licensed indication being solar keratoses, but use in practice being used mainly for basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. (quoted from Solbec website)

TAX0L one of the biggest chemotherapy drugs ,comes from the Pacific Ewe Tree.

Closer to home NRT drug phenoxodol is derived from red clover. Currently in phase two trials and capitalised at over $700m.

The large Pharmas spend billions on R @ D. This does not mean than they can always find a successful compound by themselves. These days they licence potential drugs from small biotechs. They have the dollars to take them to commercialisation. In the short term it does not matter what the market thinks.
The trial results will speak for themselves.


http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/aa061403a.htm