The Challenge

The human stomach is in trouble. Until about twenty years ago, it was thought that chronic indigestion (such as gastritis) and stomach ulcers were the result of too much stress or too much spicy food in the diet. However, it is now well understood that these, and related, gastric problems are largely the result of a type of bacteria that, remarkably, can colonize and flourish in the highly acidic environment of the stomach. Helicobacter pylori is the culprit, and it is highly infectious, communicable, and tenacious. Two-thirds of humanity have been infected; in the U.S., the figure is somewhat lower but, at 50%, is very substantial.

H. pylori can be deadly. It is the only organism that is classified as a Type 1 carcinogen and has been shown to be the major cause of stomach cancer. Stomach cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Stomach cancer and ulcers arising from H. pylori infections kill seven million people annually.

H. pylori causes a lot of misery and, until now, there haven’t been any truly effective remedies. There is an abundance of treatments which alleviate the symptoms of H. pylori infection, such as H2 receptor antagonists (Zantac®, Tagamet®, Pepcid AC®), proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec®, Previcid®, Nexium®) and, of course, plain old ant­acids. The only way to actually eradicate an infection is with a heavy regimen of combinations of antibiotics. Regardless of the treatment, though, H. pylori tends to bounce back. Recurrence rates for gastritis and ulcers are high. This is because blockers and inhibitors don’t treat the infection per se, and antibiotics are being overwhelmed by microbial resistance. Thus, there is a compelling need for a product which is a safe, effective microbicide against H. pylori.
  

The Solution

LECTIN was founded on the basis of a simple but elegant concept. All living cells (and many viruses) are sheathed in carbohydrates which bristle with a variety of chemical receptors. These receptors bind with a variety of biological molecules to transfer information and chemicals, which are vital to the life processes of the cell.

Pathogens, such as H. pylori, are equipped with surface proteins which can attach to corresponding receptors on a host cell and, because of their foreign nature, cause considerable havoc. This is the opening salvo in the progression of a bacterial disease — the critical, seminal step of infection. If this step can be interrupted, the disease process can be interrupted.

The Company takes its name from a special type of protein called a lectin. Lectins are found in most plants and animals and are characterized by chemical configurations which allow them to bind to the carbohydrate receptors on cell surfaces. Each type of lectin has a unique structure and, so, binds only with quite specific types of receptors. In fact, it is this unique type of binding “fingerprint” for lectins which provided the original tool for determining human blood types.

In much the same way, LECTIN has painstakingly identified lectins, entirely derived from botanical sources, which have the ability to bind with the receptors carried on many types of pathogens. This has resulted in a host of exciting discoveries with tremendous implications for the treatment of infectious disease. In the forefront of these discoveries is the identification of an extremely safe dietary lectin, found in wheat, which binds with and destroys the infectivity of H. pylori. Because this happens at the most fundamental stage of the infection process, it is virtually impossible for the organism to mutate into a resistant strain. The net effect is to provide a very safe microbicide which is specific to H. pylori, and which H. pylori can’t overcome. Not only are the symptoms relieved, but the infection is arrested by the lectin.
  

NutraLec®

This lectin product is being presented to the marketplace as NutraLec for use directly as a functional nutraceutical or for use in nutraceutical formulations. It is also intended for use in combination with blockers, inhibitors, or antacids in OTC gastric aids. It is in the form of a highly palatable powder, which lends itself to a variety of dosage forms. The recommended daily dose is 40 grams, taken as two tablespoons (20 grams) in the morning and two before bedtime. Importantly, the performance of NutraLec has been validated in ongoing human clinical trials at a gastroenterology center. A summary report of the findings is available.

The company is currently developing a more advanced form of NutraLec intended for use as a prescription pharmaceutical. In laboratory testing, this product has been found to be 500 times more active than the current product. A second generation product, NutraLec II, is also planned for the treatment and prevention of “soldier diarrhea”, minimizing the effects of gastrointestinal difficulty and, thus, maximizing high performance by warfighters in the field.

NutraLec is the subject of various pending patents.