Seaside serendipity

Compounds isolated from sea sponges for their anti-cancer properties could instead end up providing Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals Ltd. with a significant opportunity in inflammation.

IZP's IPL576 series of anti-inflammatory compounds were isolated from sea sponges collected by researchers from the universities of Alberta and British Columbia during a dive focused on discovering compounds to treat cancer. The company, which has exclusive rights to the agents, believes that the oral compounds, while showing efficacy similar to glucocorticoids in cellular and animal studies, have a more rapid onset of action, lack the side effects associated with steroids and avoid problems associated with pulmonary delivery of glucocorticoids...