The Industries of Future Medicine. there are several companies participating in the production of medicines made from sea life.

The drugs that these companies produce are made from several oceanic organic materials, even some that one could find washed up on the beach or in an aquarium; like seaweed or Puffer fish for example. What is miraculous about Bio-Works, Europa, and Top-Medical, is that they all produce pharmaceuticals and medical materials made from seaweed. Bio-Works is focused on the production of Agarose, which is made from seaweed; the company gets Agarose into a usable state by first purifying the seaweed into a powder ("Bio-Works” 1). Europa produces the drug called Phycobiliproteins, also made from seaweed ("Bioproducts for Research” 1). Top-Medical produces wound dressings made from calcium alginate, also extracted from seaweed (“Top-Medical Medical Dressing” 1). Chengdu produces a chemical drug called Calcitonin, which most interestingly enough is made from the protein of Coho Salmon. Calcitonin is also produced by the human body as a hormone, but not in a state that is usable for drug production ("CHENGDU KAIJIE BIO-PHARMACEUTICALS" 1). Chemte produces an intermediate drug called Tetrodotoxin, which is made from a puffer fish and other organisms (“Manufacturer (supplier) of Tetrodotoxin (TTX)” 1). Huaian produces absorbable sutures made from Chitosan, which is extracted from the shells of crabs and shrimp (“Huaian Angel Medical Instruments” 1). Last but not least is Wuhan who produces a chemical drug called Cytarabine, which is made from sponge species indigenes to the Caribbean (“Wuhan Yuancheng Technology Development” 1).

These companies engage their products to further Earth’s sciences, as well as to keep people healthy. For example Bio-Work’s drug Agarose is used in the field of DNA testing, because it purifies the proteins to make the test more accurate. Europa’s drug phycobiliproteins is used to separate and identify red blood cells. Top-Medical produces medical products and wound dressings containing fibers that absorb fluid produced by a wound. Chengdu’s hormonal drug Calcitonin is used to help people with bone disorders.  The hormone is used to stop bone breakdown, making it significant to people with osteoporosis. Chemte’s drug Tetrotodoxin is used in the field of neuroscience research, as a very potent nerve inhibitor. Huaian produces medical products, and absorbable sutures, which contain a thread that is a catalyst for the growth of new skin.  Wuhan produces Cytarabine, which was originally used in some older chemotherapy processes as an anti-leukemic drug.  Not only was this one of the first drugs marketed in the U.S., it was also the first drug with a connection to marine life. These companies have a head start on the frontier of oceanic pharmaceutical production, because they’re all focusing their R & D on oceanic life. ("Ocean Planet" 1)

In 1977, long after Neil Armstrong’s journey to the moon, the deep sea submersible Alvin was launched on a diving expedition to explore the Galapagos rift (Gaines 65), but I digress.  The point I am trying to make is that it has taken some seventeen years, after man first set foot on the moon, for anyone to build a machine able to provide deep-sea exploration and excavation. Imagine if the technicians they had working on Alvin had the same resources of the men working on the Apollo Eleven Mission. The companies I have written about are both pioneers and entrepreneurs in the world of science as it pertains to oceanic research.  It is because of these companies that our world is constantly evolving for the better. The way these companies push the limits is a demonstration of how they keep our society moving forward.  Without the spirit these companies, their employees, and boards of directors embody we would be nothing more than our past Cro-Magnon selves, as it pertains to the field of medicine.  What amazes me is that we are more interested in outer space than our own inner space; we would rather explore the moon and stars that our own home.  To further illustrate my point, in 1961, John F. Kennedy told his congress that the United States should commit itself to landing on the moon within the decade.  Nearly four hundred thousand people spent one hundred billion dollars to put a man on the moon.  In contrast the sea excavation that Thompson, the main character in Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea, headed cost only twelve million dollars (Kinder 506).   Where would we be today if we put the same efforts into exploring our oceans that we have put into putting a man on the moon?  

Works Cited

Anikouchine, William A., and Richard W. Sternberg. The World Ocean: an Introduction to Oceanography. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1973. Print.

"Bioproducts for Research Development and Production." Europa Bioproducts – Products, Reagents for Diagnostics, Biopharmaceuticals, Research. n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2010.

"Bio-Works Co. Ltd. WorkBeads - Company Info." Bio-Works Co. Ltd. WorkBeads - Home. n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2010.

"CHENGDU KAIJIE BIO-PHARMACEUTICALS CO.,LTD China - ECVV." B2B Marketplace: China Manufacturers, China Products B2B Directory - ECVV. n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2010.

Gaines, Richard. The Explorers of the Undersea World. New York: Chelsea House, 1994. Print.

Huaian Angel Medical Instruments Co., Ltd - Sutures, Needles, Blade, Urine Bag - EC Plaza. n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2010.

 Kinder, Gary. Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea. New York: Vintage, 1998. Print.

Manufacturer (supplier) of Tetrodotoxin(TTX), Magnolol, Honokiol, Apigenin - Chemte Biotech Co., Ltd - Www.chemte.com-Powered by PageAdmin. n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2010.

"Ocean Planet:." OceanColor Web - SeaWiFS - JASON - Ocean Planet - In Search of Giant Squid. n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2010.

"Pharmaceutical Intermediate Expert for Consulting, Expert Witness." Intota - Experts, Expert Witness, Expert Consultant Services. n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2010.

Top-Medical Medical Dressing Co., Ltd. - Foam,hydrocolloid,siver Ion,surgical Drap,ostomy Bag,wound Care Advanced Dressng,alginate,I.V.Cannula Dressng,sterial Dressing,acne Dressing,wound &skin Closures,new Infusion Plaster,high-permeable Gridding-coated Transparent Dressing - EC Plaza. n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2010.

"Wuhan Yuancheng Technology Development Co., Ltd." Business to Business (B2B) Marketplace - Manufacturers Directory for International Trade Leads. 15 Dec. 2005.  Web. 18 Mar. 2010.