Drugs from the deep: scientists explore ocean frontiers

Both are in the final stages of clinical trials. "From one tonne we could isolate less than one gram" of the compound they needed for clinical trials, she told AFP. That, experts say, is partly because the huge costs of clinical trials -- potentially topping a billion dollars -- favours the development of more expensive drugs. "From one tonne we could isolate less than one gram" of the compound they needed for clinical trials, she told AFP. That, experts say, is partly because the huge costs of clinical trials -- potentially topping a billion dollars -- favours the development of more expensive drugs.