In December 1999, the FTC filed suit against Lane Labs-USA, Inc., of Allendale, N.J., and Cartilage Consultants, Inc., of Short Hills, N.J., for making unsupported claims about the anticancer properties of shark cartilage and also for falsely representing clinical studies on the use of these products. The FTC says these manufacturers had promoted their products as being effective in prevention, treatment and/or cure of cancer without scientific evidence to support their claims.

Shark cartilage, as well as bovine cartilage, does contain compounds that prevent angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels that nourish tumors. William Lane, Ph.D., highlighted this biological characteristic in his book Sharks Don’t Get Cancer.

Lane Labs and Cartilage Consultants, both run by Dr. Lane’s family, make two products with ground shark cartilage and supply information to consumers on how to use them to treat cancer.

However, scientists have found the molecules of the active ingredient in shark cartilage are too large to be absorbed in the bloodstream when taken by mouth. Therefore, the ground shark cartilage in these products passes in and out of the body without a chance to break down and be used at all. If the body could break down these molecules, experts believe there is a possibility that they could be beneficial for cancer patients. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is conducting clinical trials to see if liquid shark extract is effective as a cancer treatment.

After months of fighting the FTC allegations, the companies agreed to settle. The settlement requires that both companies end unsubstantiated claims about the benefits of shark cartilage. The FTC also fined Lane Labs $1 million and required the company to pay $550,000 to the FTC within 10 days. The remaining $450,000 is to be used to help fund the clinical trial sponsored by the NCI and Lane Labs.