WebMD Medical News Laura J. Martin, MD Sept. 19, 2011 -- A
unique compound originally isolated from sharks could prove to
be a promising treatment for hepatitis B and C and other viral
diseases, researchers say. Known as squalamine, the drug has not
yet been tested as an antiviral agent in humans, but it has been
given to hundreds of people enrolled in clinical trials designed
to test its usefulness for other conditions. Researchers say
they hope to begin human trials to test the compound’s antiviral
activity within the next year. Georgetown University Medical
Center researcher Michael Zasloff, MD, PhD, and colleagues first
discovered squalamine almost two decades ago while studying
sharks in hopes of finding new, naturally occurring antibiotic
agents. He tells WebMD that he chose sharks because they have
very primitive, but highly effective, immune systems. His more
recent research led to the discovery that the shark-derived
compound works in a completely new way that could make it an
effective antiviral dru