Squalamine

Squalamine (pronounced /ˈskweɪləmiːn/ US dict: skwā-lə-mēn) is a strong naturally derived broad-spectrum antibiotic that is predominantly derived from the livers of dogfish and other shark species.^[1] Squalamine is sometimes confused with the similar sounding squalene, an unrelated compound also found in shark-liver.

Pharmacology

While used first as an effective broad-spectrum antibiotic, it has been found recently that it can perform a powerful anti-angiogenesis function – that is, it inhibits the growth of blood vessels. Because of this function, squalamine in its intravenous form, squalamine lactate, is in the process of being tested as a treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, a rare disease where connective tissue will ossify when damaged.^[2] Squalamine is also undergoing trials for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (stage I/IIA) as well as general phase I pharmacokinetic studies.^[3][4] In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration granted squalamine Fast Track status for approval for treatment of age-related macular degeneration.^[5] However, the Genaera Corporation, the company that has done the most work with squalamine, discontinued trials for its use in treating prostate cancer and wet age-related macular degeneration in 2007.^[6][7] The Squalamine project was acquired by Ohr Pharmaceutical from the now liquidated Genaera, with the prospect of continuing the development of this drug to treat wet age-related macular degeneration.^[8]

A company (Nu-Gen Nutrition, Inc.) markets a product called 'Squalamax' as a dietary supplement, which it claims has concentrated Squalamine. The product has not been approved as a drug and cannot make therapeutic claims, as noted by the FDA in a Warning Letter.^[9]

Sources

The most abundant source of squalamine is in the livers of dogfish and sharks, though it is found in other sources, such as lampreys.^[10] First synthesized in 1995, squalamine is usually artificially sourced.^[11]

References