Organisms containing bacteria that literally killskill melanoma cells while leaving healthy cells completely unharmed are exactly the kind of selectivity that makes a viable drug. More than half of FDA-approved drugs come from natural sources, and this discovery fits squarely in that tradition. The ocean floor is an untapped pharmaceutical goldmine, and the region near Antarctica is proving that out.
Melanoma is a shape-shifting disease that outsmarts even the most advanced treatments. A promising compound is still years away from clinical use, and the pipeline for patients whose cancer stops responding to existing drugs is already dangerously thin. Getting excited about early-stage marine biology while refractory patients run out of options is a luxury the field cannot afford.
There's a 50% chance that a breakthrough in the treatment of hard-to-treat cancers will occur by October 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
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