MD Anderson is currently in the middle of what looks to be a very succesful FDA phase I toxicity trial on a new pill form of oleander extract. This would be the second time MD Anderson has been involved in a successful FDA trial for oleader exact. Here is what they had to say back in 2002:
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| NON-CONFIDENTIAL TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION | ||
| Oleander extracts with potential uses for treating cancer and viral infections | ||
| Background | ||
| One aspect of anticancer research is the search for novel, safe, and effective compounds from plants that have therapeutic potential. One such plant is oleander, an ornamental plant found natively in tropical and subtropical climates. Extracts may possibly be used as an anticancer therapeutic, as well as an antiviral agent. These two indications address a tremendous need in the market. The American Cancer Society predicts there will be over 1 million new cases of solid tumors diagnosed in the US in 2002. The cancer therapeutic market is a multibillion-dollar market. Tamoxifen is the main competitor of Anvirzel/oleandrin products. While used mainly only to treat breast cancer (205,000 new diagnosis in the US predicted for 2002), AstraZeneca realized over $500 million in revenues from tamoxifen, while Barr Laboratories reaped over $350 million from its generic tamoxifen. | ||
| Competitive Advantages | ||
| Scientists at MD Anderson are investigating oleander extracts as potential anticancer therapeutics. An extract of oleander (Nerium oleander) that contains oleandrin is efficacious in the treatment of tumors. This use is species-specific and is correlated with Na,K-ATPase isoforms. Human, rabbit, and dog tumor cell lines are sensitive. Also, oleandrin is degraded by rodent plasma, but not by human plasma. Additionally, oleandrin raises the intracellular calcium level, releases cytochrome C from mitochondria, and induces apoptosis through a caspase-dependent pathway. Also, oleandrin inhibits the release of the tumor growth factor bFGF from tumors. bFGF has many tumor-proliferating effects including promoting angiogenesis. Oleandrin was determined to block the activation of NF-?B, which in turn blocks the cell-survival function of NF-?B. Further, oleandrin and oleander extracts inhibit the activation of Akt, a cell survival component. In addition, a non-water-soluble fraction of oleander is able to produce oxygen free-radicals in tumor cells, which may contribute to tumor cell injury and death. Oleandrin, particularly when in the context of oleander extract, is able to cross the blood-brain-barrier. Evidence suggests that oleandrin and oleander extract have antiviral activity. Development continues as the oleander extract is nontoxic to normal cells and exhibits multiple antitumor activities such as inducing apoptosis, reducing molecular mechanisms of cell survival, and inhibiting tumor-promoting factor bFGF-2. The inventors plan to use the rabbit adenocarcinoma cell line to test the relative antitumor efficacy in rabbits, followed by analysis of routes of administration, and combination therapies. | ||
| Reference Link(s): N/A |
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| MDA Ref. No.: MDA02-045 / 11-19-02 / | ||
Note: For further information on how oleander works against cancer, see:
Oleander Induces Autophagy - Exclusive Story
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