N.L. firm raises ‘significant’ prospect of using seaweed as cancer fighter

ST. JOHN’S, N.L .• A cancer researchers ayshe’ s cautious ly optimistic about an East Coast ocean technology company’s apparent discovery of properties in seaweed off Newfoundland and Labrador that inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells, but warns the company still faces many hurdles.

Oceans Ltd. announced Wednesday it has been studying the seaweed’s potential commercialization in pharmaceutical products for seven years, and has sampled about 70 seaweed species in Newfoundland and Labrador’s coastal waters.

It said studies that used an extract from the seaweed on mice have “conclusively” demonstrated effectiveness in inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cells.

Dr. David Hoskin, a professor of pathology at Dalhousie University who was not involved with the company or its research, said the product appears promising, but added there have been many natural products that have inhibited growth of human cancer in mice.

Oceans Ltd. president and CEO Judith Bobbitt said Wednesday its unique molecule has already undergone laboratory and animal testing at the National Research Council Canada, in accordance with Ottawa’s drug protocol.

She said there are patents pending, and the company is now looking to partner with pharmaceutical companies to fund further research. “This is significant,” said Bobbitt. “It’s a novel molecule we found in a natural environment that nobody knew existed.”

Hoskin said Oceans Ltd. will have to convince a company that its product is more effective and more economical than anything else the company has coming down the pipeline, and get it to agree to fund extensive clinical trials.

Oceans Ltd. has not yet shared the research with medical journals, as patents are pending.

Hoskin said he hopes the research is submitted at some point so its scientific validity can be assessed.