Cryptome Pharmaceuticals to unlock milk secrets

15/11/05 Melbourne-based biotechnology company Cryptome Pharmaceuticals Ltd will receive more than $850,000 from Dairy Australia over the next three years to conduct research that could unlock hidden pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals (Nutraceuticals are foods or food ingredients with a health and nutritional benefit) in milk proteins.

In-house expertise, state-of-the-art R&D facilities, and an international network of collaborators will enable Cryptome to identify and characterise novel proteins and fragments of proteins (crypteins). These could provide health benefits, as well as nutritional benefits, and potentially be used by the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical markets.

Cryptome's Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Vic L. Ilag said discoveries in this area could potentially help manage cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic inflammatory disorders.

Dairy Australia's Dr Phillip Marzella said Dairy Australia is keen to support the venture, which will ensure that any benefits will be captured by the Australian dairy industry.

Milk products are known to be fertile sources of bioactive material. Several examples of bioactive peptides derived from milk proteins already have been identified with clinically-relevant activities including anti-coagulants and anti-cancer compounds.

Milk is an economical source of high-value protein, whereas therapeutic proteins are typically expensive to produce. It is reasonable to assume that demand for useful peptides from milk, whether pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals, would be likely to be measured in the hundreds or even thousands of kilograms.

http://www.cryptomepharmaceuticals.com

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