Krebiozen is derived from the blood of Argentinean horses inoculated with Actinomyces bovis, and contains a naturally occurring anti-cancer substance found only in horses exposed to this bacterium.
The Durovic brothers described Krebiozen as derived from the blood of Argentinean horses injected with a bacterium (Schwarcz, McGill OSS, 2017). They declined to disclose the full composition, citing the risk of competitors copying the formula. Independent chemical analysis by the FDA in 1963 found the vials contained creatine monohydrate in mineral oil; some vials contained only mineral oil (CA Cancer J Clin 1973, PMID 4196527). Creatine monohydrate is a common endogenous compound that can be purchased cheaply and has no established connection to Actinomyces bovis or to any anti-cancer mechanism. The claim of a unique horse-serum derivation was therefore not supported by the substance’s actual composition.
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Sources
- Can Krebiozen Treat Cancer? — Schwarcz, Joe. "Can Krebiozen Treat Cancer?" McGill University Office for Science and Society. 20 March 2017. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/quackery/can-krebiozen-treat-cancer
- Unproven methods of cancer management. Krebiozen and carcalon — [No authors listed]. "Unproven methods of cancer management. Krebiozen and carcalon." CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 1973 Mar-Apr;23(2):111–115. PMID 4196527.
- Krebiozen: Government Indicts Sponsors of Alleged Cancer Drug; Ivy, Durovic, among Those Named — Langer E. "Krebiozen: Government Indicts Sponsors of Alleged Cancer Drug; Ivy, Durovic, among Those Named." Science. 1964 Dec 4;146(3649):1282–1284. PMID 17810142. DOI 10.1126/science.146.3649.1282.