Researchers look to sharks for antiviral treatments

Turns out sharks are pretty good at fighting off viruses, and researchers have taken notice.

Merion-based Dr. Michael Zasloff tells Health & Science reporter Carolyn Beeler synthetic squalamine, originally found in sharks, is effective in treating human pathogens like  yellow fever and Hepatitis B in lab animals and tissue cultures. Now the compound is being looked at for cancer and eye disease.

It’s part of a new wave of fighting viral infections that includes studying how broad-spectrum compounds can be used for multiple treatments.