Origo Biosciences researchers have isolated a naturally occuring protein in milk which can bind to cholesterol in the human digestive tract and prevent its absorption into the blood stream. The developers are looking at introducing this anitbody, termed anti-cholesterol, into the functional food market as a food supplement.

Further research is needed to identify the best sources, and to optimize processing to increase its bioavailability. Human trials are also foressen for this fall, and if results are favorable, this may could very well take a sizeable chunk anti-cholesterol market. Currently, Zetia (Schering-Plough/Merck) seems to be the only cholesterol absorption inhibitor drug on this million-dollar market.

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