krebiozen

kre·bi·o·zen

(krĕ-bī'ō-zen),

A substance allegedly isolated from beef heart or blood of horses. Studied in the 1960s as a treatment for cancer. Analysis by the U.S. F.D.A. showed only creatine monohydrate.

[Ger. Krebs, crab, cancer]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

Krebiozen

Health fraud
A substance promoted in the late 1940s as an effective therapy for cancer, which in samples obtained by the NCI and the FDA consisted of creatine monohydrate in mineral oil. Of the 4307 Krebiozen-treated cases investigated by the FDA, less than one-half of the medical records were complete enough to allow evaluation; only three of these 1526 cases had what would be considered objective responses, and the three cases may have represented spontaneous regression of cancer. The healthcare professionals of the Krebiozen Research Foundation were indicted on 49 counts of fraud and conspiracy, but were acquitted.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.