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Beta Pharmaceutical Limited and its joint venture partner are committed to the research and development of products and therapies for the managing breast cancer based on chemoprevention.

By definition, cancer chemoprevention is the administration of a chemical agent, either natural or synthetic, which is designed to reduce the risk, or to block, delay, or even reverse the progression of the disease and prevent it from becoming clinically relevant.

A rigorous programme of scientific research using purified isomers of tocotrienols, an organic phytonutrient found in palm oil was initiated by the Company in December, 2007. Earlier work performed by the laboratories involved in the current programme in vitro and in animal studies indicates that tocotrienols are able to protect cells against the effects of carcinogens, suppress tumour growth and reduces the toxicity of several anticancer therapies. Most often, the prescribed therapy kills cancer cells but also harms healthy cells as well. Meanwhile, the studies conducted by our scientific team to date have shown that tocotrienols are able to induce apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells and also lessen the harm done to healthy cells.

Against this background, management believes products and therapies for breast cancer can be developed using palm tocotrienols which do not have the severe side effects of some of the current treatments and/or involve major disfigurative surgery.

The research in question is being conducted in cooperation with the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) and involves four separate laboratories within the College of Pharmacy of ULM.

Leading the research is the University's Pfizer Endowed Professor of Pharmacology, Dr. Paul W. Sylvester, a world-recognized expert in nutrition and cancer.

Being known as the Breast Cancer and Health Project, the research programme is now well underway.

Pharmaceutics Research

The Breast Cancer and Health Project has the objective to "fill in the gaps" associated with previous research conducted by Dr. Sylvester and his laboratories and allow the participants in the project to proceed immediately to clinical trials involving tocotrienols as a chemopreventive therapy for breast cancer at the end of the research period. Specifically, the modules of research lead by different specialists involve:

  1. Module One, lead by Dr. Paul W Sylvester PHD
    In vitro cell culture screening and animal anticancer efficacy evaluation of individual tocotrienol isomers in relevant breast cancer models.
  2. Module Two, lead by Dr. Sami Nazzal PHD
    Formulation of tocotrienols for optimal absorption and delivery to target tissue.
  3. Module Three, lead by Dr. Amal K. Khalil PHD
    Pharmacology of tocotrienols with emphasis on metabolism.
  4. Module Four, lead by Dr. Khalid El Sayed PHD
    Pharmaceutical development of second-generation tocotrienol derivatives by biochemical modification.

Commercial Strategy

Initially, Beta Pharmaceutical Limited and its joint venture partner wish to be able – as a result of the completion of the ULM research described above - to introduce to the global market following completion of relevant clinical trials a chemo preventive therapy for breast cancer which would be taken on a daily basis and marketed at an affordable price targeted towards the everyday consumer.

When such a product is available, consumers will truly have a much greater control in the prevention and management of this debilitating disease.

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