Jamaican scientist makes prostate cancer breakthrough

Dr Henry Lowe unveils formula that can eliminate deadly disease

BY VERNON DAVIDSON Executive Editor - publications davidsonv@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, December 03, 2010

JAMAICAN scientist Dr Henry Lowe last night threw a lifeline to men worldwide when he announced that he had developed a formula that can reduce and eliminate prostate cancer, the number one cause of cancer deaths among males.

"I am pleased to announce that we have reached the final stages in the development of the Alpha Prostate Formula, which will be on the market in the next three months under the Eden Gardens brand," Dr Lowe told guests at the launch of Bio-Tech R&D Institute at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston.

Lowe, executive chairman of Environmental Health Foundation which is based at his Eden Gardens complex in Kingston, explained that the formula will be locally produced, first as a nutraceutical.

"The drug takes time and millions of US dollars to develop, so that is why we're making it available in its semi-purified form," Dr Lowe told the Observer in an interview outside of the launch.

Dr Joseph Bryant from the University of Maryland Medical School and a shareholder in Bio-Tech R&D Institute, agreed. "We have to go by the rules and the regulations as to how fast we can get it out there, but the nutraceutical thing now allows us to get it out much faster," he told the Observer.

"We cannot overemphasise the point of what this means for the country, and I hope that the younger generation will carry it on," Dr Bryant added.

Lowe's cancer research work attracted world attention when he announced that he had found properties in the Jamaican ball moss that had the potential to fight cancer.

Yesterday, he said that the formula is derived from the main ingredient in the ball moss and has been shown to have major prostate anti-cancer activity.

Jamaica has one of the highest prostate cancer rates in the world with approximately 150 men diagnosed each year. Medical experts believe that a large percentage of affected men are undiagnosed.

Yesterday, Lowe, who won the Observer Business Leader Award for 2006, noted that in addition to Jamaica, numerous cases of prostate cancer have been reported among black Americans and Africans.

"The market for that is tremendous and there are only two other products as nutraceuticals for this," he said. "This is going in there, brand Jamaica, and if we get the right thrust and the right support we have hundreds of millions of US dollars which can come to Jamaica."

Yesterday, in his prepared remarks, Lowe said that as a first step in the development of the nutraceutical industry, Bio-Tech R&D Institute has already secured capital of $25 million, which will contribute to the overall development of the institute in the next 24 months. Further capitalisation of $25 million is expected within the next 48 months.

"As a result, the only thing that could impede success is our will to succeed," said Dr Lowe.

"We will be working toward seizing a five per cent share of the global nutraceutical industry within the next two years, which translates to a multi-billion-dollar local industry -- approximately $726 billion," he said.

The Bio-Tech R&D Institute brings together Jamaica's four leading research institutions -- the University of the West Indies, University of Technology, Northern Caribbean University and the Scientific Research Council -- all of which will receive 2.5 per cent of the total shares of the institute free of cost.

In addition to his other shareholders -- Federated Pharmaceutical/Lascelles Limited and the Environmental Health Foundation — Dr Lowe said he has forged a partnership with the largest nutraceutical company in China, which will distribute the formula in that Asian country.

"We expect that gaining even one per cent of the Chinese market will amount to tremendous US dollar value export earnings — perhaps the most rewarding endeavours and investments in our country in recent times," said Dr Lowe.

— Additional reporting by Nadine Wilson

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COMMENTS (28)

Everton Welby
12/3/2010

This is the best news I have heard in a long time. It shows what the black man can do when they put their minds to the task. Way to go Jamaica.
Unfortunately some have the crab mentality-they aim to just pull each other down. The bad mind and red eyes should spare us.

Camille Ann-Alicia
12/3/2010

This is AWESOME! You go JAMAICA!!

ras zacka
12/3/2010

DR Henry Lowe CONGRATS to YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jah knows that our rich heritage of african herbal cures since colonial times lies within our Blood The.Rastafari community salutes this type of tech ,in research of botanical chemical extracts certified organic for humanWELNESS.Many great doctors developed endemic plants from Jamaica into medicine.GLAUCOMA a devastating eye disease ,was hit with a blow more than twenty years ago when a renown black Jamaica md made GANJA EYE DROPS

Village Voice
12/3/2010

let me make it simple for "Mr Anderson":
This is indeed a medical breakthrough, but it can, should and will mean lots of money to everyone concerned. Why should it not? I see the bright green hue of jealousy in your jaundiced eyes.

mad max
12/3/2010

This is good but the main but we should hold back on celebration until it is proven that this drug works...

Rena Acart
12/3/2010

Best of luck Dr. Lowe. Congrats on your hard work.

L G
12/3/2010

Mark Jones, anyone can claim to have found a cure for cancer and many have. Proving that is far more difficult and those of us not caught up in the euphoria of the sensational claims being made simply want our erstwhile journalists to ask a few basic questions. So why not, for example, ask if any pathologists (doctors who diagnose cancer) or oncologists (doctors who treat cancer) were involved in testing this substance. I don’t see what the problem is with asking basic questions like these.

Richard Clarke
12/3/2010

I PRAY God this is not a hoax and that He has really found something worthwhile.. God knows Jamaica has had enough embarrassment already. on the positive side its great if a Jamaican in Jamaica can make such a significant breakthrough, and yes everything has to be about business it took millions to make so of course they would want to recoup cost plus make profit.

Yard Vibz
12/3/2010

Yesterday when the Observer 1st mentioned this news, I too was elated about Mr. Lowe's industrious mind, but after I have read today's report, something tells me that I may have popped the Champagne prematurely. You see, with an announcement of this calibre, sometimes we have to ignore the urge, which compels us to operate with blurred vision due to home-grown loyalty, & ask relevant questions, such as those raised by Alvin & Mike. And trust mi, ah nuh no bad mind thing wi ah deal wid. One love!

Everton Welby
12/3/2010

@ Alvin L, there are those who will never give us credit for doing anything good, but will be eager to claim the credit as their own. I am sure the info will be out in due time

christopher Isaacs
12/3/2010

A comparable effort that we witnessed during the Dudus/Manatt debacle by the media and civil society and the country on a whole must be brought to bear on Gov to spare no resource to ensure that the work of this great Jamaican is realized, if fact, even if it means failing the IMF test. We have sat over the years and allow large countries to tell us how bad the drug that god nurtured was for us and even when our doctors found established it's medicinal values we still ignored it. Not this time!!

pete delisser
12/3/2010

Im always weary of sensational media headlines all in the name of profit for business. Why is this 'breakthrough' not making international headlines?? BY golly, the news story isnt even in the other paper (Gleaner). Lets not mislead the vulnerable Jamaican public...but we can still encourage local scientists. It all begins with viable research & development.

mark jones
12/3/2010

this is a newspaper for pete's sake not a medical journal, seems some people wanted full discussion of chemical properties, side effects, etc. Please read the article properly, and go do some research about who Dr. Lowe is.....the man is not a reader man or bush doctor..chill out man details and the necessary peer reviews will follow.

David Armstrong
12/3/2010

While this news is encouraging and might be very well be a breakthrough treatment for prostate cancer I think it is too early to celebrate. My concern is that there was no mention of clinical trials that would indicate the drug's effect in the treatment of prostate cancer. The other concern I have is how do we know the semi-purified form will be effective since it would be available in a reduced dosage. I am sure people with medical background will have more questions on this brekthrough drug.

owen lloyd
12/3/2010

I hope this is true because many have been deceived before. Like many things always proceed with caution.

Eagle Eyes
12/3/2010

Alvin L! Yu ha waan breda name Mr. Anderson? Wha wrang wid uno? Uno gi tanks an wait fi mo info, Or as yu say ungl a " fleeting rmrks ", den yu go fleet yu self. Be appreciative, and wait for the finalization and detailed info of the product.

Eagle Eyes
12/3/2010

Anderson! Where are you crawling from? Have you any sense of VALUE? This is the only way I am allowed to reply to your IDIOTIC response to this MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT by men (and ) I MEAN MEN of the soil. My head is as big as the FULL MOON in appreciation of these GENIUSES ONE IN A LIFE-TIME INVENTION.

Joe Robinson
12/3/2010

Our minds are so entrenched politically that everything and most of our comments has to have some political flavor. Dr Lowes achievements and hardwork should be seperated from usual everyday comments.Our comments Re: Down with all politians etc.has no place in this matter. We need to be mature in our thinking & our comments. Lets praise God for giving the wisdom to these dedicated Jamaicans who has shown the world that we indeed are a great Nation. Both Dr. Lowe & Williams must be commended.

John Johnson
12/3/2010

The wonders and mind bobbling things Jamaicans can do when they put their hearts and mind into something worthy of being mentioned. I hope the Govt. invest in such a project and also in technology as it is the backbone of any major country.

Richard Sheppy
12/3/2010

Am I missing something here.... For a medical breakthrough of this magnitude, I would have expected worldwide excitement. There is no reference to this achievement anywhere on the Internet, save the one link that redirects you to this article. Well, am I missing something here, . . . . .

mike anderson
12/3/2010

Lets not get too excited yet, many claims have been made before about cancer curing drugs. What about some data,or scientific research, more was mentioned about the money making potential than the cancer curing ability.Nutraceutical foods are not subject to the same testing and regulations as pharmaceutical drugs

Alvin L.
12/3/2010

Interesting report of Dr Lowe's findings. I look forward to a clearer report in the New England Journal of Medicine.
I think the article could have clarified what exactly is the ''ball moss"! There is only a few fleeting remarks. There is nothing of it's qualities or where it is obtained, what tests were conducted and for how long.
We appreciate hard work and welcome a breakthrough however, more could have been explained about his findings.

Hotta Fire
12/3/2010

Jamaica again....One love one heart one destiny..

ashley johns
12/3/2010

This is simply remarkable, our Doctors and Pharmacists are simply first world and first class. This is what can happen when the health team work together..the Doctors from UWI, the Pharmacists from UTech and the Chemists from SRC. Congratulations to you guys, i am so excited and amazed at this development. I wished i could somehow be involved in this positive development. Imagine nothing in the Gleaner of today about this development, i bet if it was Manat, it would make front page. Disgusting!!

L G
12/3/2010

Congratulations Dr.Lowe. I hope however that this announcement was not done prematurely. There is little in the article about the basis for your assertions that this cures prostate cancer and far more detail about the business aspects of your venture. Were clinical trials done on men in Jamaica ? Were any of them cured ? Was our medical school involved ? Please sir, reassure us that this press conference was not just designed to stir shareholder interest and investment in your business venture.

Mr. Anderson
12/3/2010

Is this a medical or financial breakthrough? He sounds more like a business man than anything else.

Anthony C
12/3/2010

Jamaican men are afraid to have their prostate check because of the way doctor's sticking their fingers in the anus,that is why our rate is very high.I don't want no one fingering me,therefore i maintain a healthy prostate by using natural herbs and stay away from the things that can disturb my prostate,thanks for the cure Dr.Lowe but i think prevention is better,We don't hear the price tag for these treatment as yet.i am waiting to hear the cost.

Jay Brown
12/3/2010

You know this is second article in a week on the remarkable achievement of two of our star medical experts. These world class achievements which deserves full accolades.
We are proud of these guys achievements, they have excelled in their fields.
Why do we then accept mediocrity from our elected leaders, its time for us to say enough is enough.
Big up Dr Williams and Dr Lowe - down with all politicians - they are a miserable failure and failing the country in the process.

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