Evening star., 1949-03-23
Stars, Men and Atoms
Most Potent Vitumin, BIZ,
Produced Synthetico||y
Factor to Treat Pernicious Anemia
Costly to Extract Naturally
By Thomas r. Henry

Production by moulds Of the most potent
Of all vitamins-B12. or the anti-pernicious
anemia factor in liver which is effective in
doses as small as millionth Of millisram
has been announced to the American As
sociation for the Advancement Of Science
here.
This achievement. described in . letter
from DR.. E. L. Rickes Of the research labora-
tories of Merck & Co. Of Railway, N. j., may
open the way to eventual large production
of one of the most elusive substances in
nature. For biological potency there is
nothing remotely comparable with BIZ. First
isolated about six months ago, 1t represented
one Of the outstanding medical advances
Of the decade. But 1t was far too difficult
to extract and costly for use In general
practice.
Chemists. after preliminary studies, des-
paired OF ever being able to make 1t syn
thetically. Its molecule turned out to be
very large and complicated and 1t repre-
sented only an inf1nitesimally small part of
liver. Ever since there has been a search
for some means Of producing it by culti-
waiting micro-organism
Effects Held Identical.
The discovery reported by DR.. Rickes is
that mould closely related to that which
produces streptomycin contains a substance.
which can be obtained from it In the form
OF red crystals. the biological effects of
which are identical with those Of the vita.
min from liver. It is presumed to be
chemically Identical
The vitamin appears to counteract the
symptoms Of Addison's disease both on the
blood and on the nerves. Its effects are
quite similar for other forms Of pernicious
anen1ia This disease for the past Is years
has been treated with various liver extracts
These have been made more concentrated
and effective but 1t has been obvious that
the therapeutic principle itself still was not
known.
Since the discoveit of the vitamins Jointly
at the Merck laboratories and the Depart
ment Of Agriculture last spring 1t has been
found still in minute amounts in milk
powder. beef broth and several species of
bacteria.
Finding Of group of chemicals with some
effect against leukenia. the almost inva-
riably fatal cancer Of the blood, has just
been reported to the National Cancer Insti-
tute Of the Public Health Service.
These chemicals are variations Of the So
called "carbamates" with ammonia like
molecules. Several have been used in sleep
ing powders and as fever reducers' They
were found to have a specific killing action
increase enormously in leukenia.
Unfortunately, all Of these are extremely
poisonous. The problem was to flnd some
variation Of the chemical molecule which
would be less toxic and at the same time
retain its anti-leukemic effect.
The present work was reported by DR..
Howard E. Seipper and his associates OF
the Medical College Of Alabama. They tested
q compounds closely related to the carba-
mate urethan used In sleeping potions.
Generally. the less toxic the less effective.
it was found.
Merely New Approach.
The Alabama workers. however, were able
to find three variations Of the basic urethan
formula which showed considerable anti
leukemia effect in experimental animals In
less than fatal doses. One of these caused
quite notable change within two days after
injection. 49,.
The work, it is stressed, must not be inter.
preted as having any application to human
leukemia In the near future but 1t Is merely
another pioneering approach to problem
which now battles medicine. A constant
goal in cancer research Is. to find something
which will kill malignant cells and leave
others unharmed.
With the most effective Of their prepara-
tions,. DR.. Seipper and his associates found.
it was possible to increase the life span Of
mice with one type of leukemia from so
to 100 per cent.
1t remains uncertain whether the effect Is
against specifically malignant white blood
cells or against white cells in general These
are essential to combat infection.
The effect Is believed to be due to some
action of the chemicals inhibiting the proc
ess of cell division which is greatly speeded
in the advanced stages Of leukemia.