British Firm Says Curry Pills May Prevent Cancer

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Monday January 8 7:40 AM ET

British Firm Says Curry Pills May Prevent Cancer

By Ben Hirschler

LONDON (Reuters) - An Indian spice used in curry might help prevent and treat

bowel cancer, British biotechnology firm Phytopharm Plc. said Monday.

Dixey, chief executive of the company which specializes in developing

medicines from plants, said turmeric-based food supplement pills against the

disease could go on sale later this year, initially in the United States.

Phytopharm's P54 product works by inhibiting the production of an enzyme,

cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2), involved in inflammation and certain cancers.

It was tested on 15 patients suffering from advanced colorectal cancer in a dose

escalation trial carried out in conjunction with the University of Leicester.

``The results of this trial appear to confirm that P54 is able to inhibit COX-2

and may have a role in both the prevention of colon cancer and, possibly, could

form part of a treatment regimen for established disease,'' said lead

investigator School Professor Will Steward from the University of Leicester.

Phytopharm's shares rose 1.5 percent to 881-1/2 pence by 1200 GMT following the

announcement, just short of their record 887p reached last week.

Dixey told Reuters he was discussing commercialization of P54 for the prevention

of bowel cancer with three companies, with the aim of developing a natural

product for sale as a health food.

``Our view is that it is probably more appropriate as a nutriceutical or

medicinal food market than as a prescription drug,'' he said.

Phytopharm believes its curry cancer pills could retail for around $1 a day,

targeting a global market of around 10 million people who have colonic polyps,

small growths that may presage bowel cancer.

Dixey said eating a diet high in turmeric would not have the same beneficial

effects as taking the pills since the dried cooking spice lacked the vital

volatile oils which gave P54 most of its potency. Phytopharm is also developing

P54 as a prescription drug for inflammatory bowel disease and as a veterinary

product for arthritis in dogs.

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