"Our experiments have so far shown that MC26 causes few side-effects, definitely much less than amantadine, " said Yuto Kamei, an assistant professor of marine biotechnology and one of those who led the study.

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But according to Dr Paul Kingston, from the Centre for Marine Diversity and Biotechnology at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, the problems are minimal.

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Biotechnology companies are also interested in marine products, as the related licenses can be sold not only to pharmaceutical companies but also to industry.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

There is no consensus on the financial benefits derived from worldwide sales of biotechnology-related products taken from all types of marine environments but these are estimated to represent a multibillion dollar market.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES