Scientific Research

The program of scientific studies has been, and continues to be, defined by the anecdotal evidence.

We have undertaken a program of non-clinical research in collaboration with leading research institutions in Australia and the UK.  This research has focused on understanding the biological mechanism(s) of action of the OPAL Extracts at the molecular, cellular and organ (skin) levels and on determining the biological basis for their observed attractive safety profile.  The findings to date show that there are multiple bioactive molecules in OPAL A which have multiple modes of action.

Much of our research has been directed to investigating the proteolytic activity of the family of cysteine proteases in the OPAL Extracts and the antibacterial activity of these Extracts.

The results to date are of great interest to the scientists involved in the research.  Keith Brocklehurst, globally renowned for his work on cysteine proteases of Carica papaya and one of the inventors of our Second-Generation OPAL Process patent, has described some of the results as “remarkable and unexpected”.

The scientific results combined with the anecdotal evidence to date also suggest several other therapeutic effects; appropriate experimental work is being, or will be, undertaken to confirm or reject these identified effects.

Two studies were conducted under the supervision of Dr Fraser Russell at The University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.  Whilst some of the results of these studies are confidential, Dr Russell and his colleagues published a paper entitled, Effect of the novel wound healing agent, OPAL A on leukotriene B4 production in human neutrophils and 5-lipoxygenase activity in the December 2011 edition of Wound Practice & Research.  These results suggested that OPAL A may have vasodilatory effects.  This is also suggested by several of the clinical outcomes that have been observed as recorded by Professor Geoffrey Mitchell of The University of Queensland in a paper entitled Clinical observations supporting a vasodilatory effect of the modified papaya extract OPAL001 also in the December 2011 edition of Wound Practice & Research.

Due to the confidentiality of the results of the work, academic papers and non-confidential presentations will not be made available (except to parties who have signed Confidentiality Agreements) or published in journals until the relevant patent applications have been published.