2
Therapy The first mention of the Koch Antitoxins was made in an article by William F. Koch, Ph.D., M.D., in Detroit Medicat Jourimat, July, 1919. As subsequently developed, the Koch treatment is said to be based on a belief that cancer is a protective response to a toxic product generated within the body, and that this product must be oxidized before recovery is possible. The Koch method uses a cleansing regimen by diet, combined with the three Koch Antitoxins: Glyoxylide, Malonide and Benzo quinone (BQ). The chief therapy for cancer recommended by Dr. Koch is Glyoxylide, administered by in jection in a solution said to contain one part of â€oe¿partially oxidized inositol― to a trillion parts of distilled water. The other two Anti toxins, 1:4 Benzoquinone and Malonide, Ketene Solution, are said to be effective in allergies, infections, and cancer. Dr. Koch claims that all three act as catalysts to en courage the destruction of the toxins which he holds responsible for the growth of cancer tissue. They are administered in combination with a strict diet, combined with high enemas. Proponents Originally, the sole owner and manufacturer of the Koch Antitoxins was the Koch Labora tories, Inc., organized about 1926 by three Koch brothers (William, Fred and Louis) and a Clarence Lehr. At that time, the Koch Anti toxins were distributed only to members of the Koch Cancer Foundation, also founded in 1926 by a group of seven medical doctors, most of whom had been associated previously with the use of other unproven method3 of treatment. Price per treatment to stockhold ers or members of the Foundation was $110, and the Foundation specified to members, as a minimum charge, $300 for the first treatment and $200 for each treatment thereafter. Members of the Koch Cancer Foundation advertised widely and lectured before such organizations as the â€oe¿American Association for the Study and Cure of Cancer,―and â€oe¿The Anti-Cancer Center of the District of Colum bia.―The Foundation published two journals. In August 1948, following a government in spection of his laboratories in Detroit, Dr. Koch announced he was going out of business. The Koch Laboratories were dissolved, and Dr. Koch moved to Brazil where he has lived ever since. In October of that year, however, Car bonyls, Inc. was organized, and distributed the Koch Antitoxins until the Christian Medical Research League (Detroit, Michigan) was in corporated as a nonprofit institution in November 1948, and became the distributor of the Koch preparations. This organization was reported to have discontinued operations as of September 1958. The Koch Antitoxins are still being distributed, but the present source is not known. Investigations In May 1926, The Joursmat of the American Medicat Associatiomi (â€oeKoch's ‘¿CancerAnti toxin,'― J.A.M.A. 86: 1469-1472, 1926) re ported that in the seven years that had passed since Dr. Koch announced his discovery, â€oe¿the Wayne County (Detroit) Medical Society has appointed three committees to investigate Koch's ‘¿cure.' Each of the three reports has been unfavorable. The last report closed with the statement: ‘¿In no instance have we found a case where the diagnosis of cancer was abso lutely established and where no other form of treatment had been used in which a cure or any decided benefit had been obtained.'― In 1942, the Food and Drug Administration instituted action against Dr. Koch and his brother, Louis, for shipping the misbranded Koch Synthetic Antitoxins in interstate com merce, and the Federal Trade Commission opened an investigation of false claims made in advertising. The Food and Drug Adminis tration case went to trial in January 1943. After four and a half months of testimony, during which 43 government witnesses, in cluding some of the leading medical scientists in the country, testified that the Koch sub stances were not efficacious in the cure, miti gation, treatment, or prevention of cancer and other diseases, the trial resulted in a hung jury. A second trial which ran for five months in 1946 ended in a mistrial when a juror be came ill. In 1948 the indictment was dropped after the Kochs changed the label on their pro(Iuct so that it no longer claimed a cure. The Christian Medical Research League. which took over the manufacture and distri bution of the Koch Antitoxins in December 1948, distributed them as prescription drugs. The Federal Trade Commission investiga tion resulted in an order, issued in 1951. which forbids statements that any of the Koch Anti toxins â€oe¿possess therapeutic value or that their use will be of benefit in the treatment of any disease of the human body or in animals.― Dr. William F. Koch and Louis G. Koch, as Presi dent and Secretary-Treasurer, respectively, of the Koch Laboratories, Inc., petitioned the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to review the Cease and Desist Order of the Federal Trade Commission. On July 8, 1953, this Court issued a decision affirming the order of the Commission and ordering the petition ers to obey it. The decision also stated that 223 Unproven Methods of Cancer Treatment Time following statement concerning the Koch Antitoxins, Gtyoxylide, Malonide and Benzoquimmomie, proposed fom' the treatment of cancem by Wittiam F. Koch, Ph.D., M.D., was recemitly distributed to the 59 Divisions of the American Cancer Society for their information. Koch Antitoxins

Unproven methods of cancer treatment: Koch antitoxins

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Page 1: Unproven methods of cancer treatment: Koch antitoxins

TherapyThe first mention of the Koch Antitoxins

was made in an article by William F. Koch,Ph.D., M.D., in Detroit Medicat Jourimat, July,1919. As subsequently developed, the Kochtreatment is said to be based on a belief thatcancer is a protective response to a toxicproduct generated within the body, and thatthis product must be oxidized before recoveryis possible. The Koch method uses a cleansingregimen by diet, combined with the three KochAntitoxins: Glyoxylide, Malonide and Benzoquinone (BQ).

The chief therapy for cancer recommendedby Dr. Koch is Glyoxylide, administered by injection in a solution said to contain one partof “¿�partially oxidized inositol― to a trillionparts of distilled water. The other two Antitoxins, 1:4 Benzoquinone and Malonide,Ketene Solution, are said to be effective inallergies, infections, and cancer. Dr. Kochclaims that all three act as catalysts to encourage the destruction of the toxins whichhe holds responsible for the growth of cancertissue. They are administered in combinationwith a strict diet, combined with high enemas.

ProponentsOriginally, the sole owner and manufacturer

of the Koch Antitoxins was the Koch Laboratories, Inc., organized about 1926 by threeKoch brothers (William, Fred and Louis) anda Clarence Lehr. At that time, the Koch Antitoxins were distributed only to members ofthe Koch Cancer Foundation, also founded in1926 by a group of seven medical doctors,most of whom had been associated previouslywith the use of other unproven method3 oftreatment. Price per treatment to stockholders or members of the Foundation was $110,and the Foundation specified to members, as aminimum charge, $300 for the first treatmentand $200 for each treatment thereafter.

Members of the Koch Cancer Foundationadvertised widely and lectured before suchorganizations as the “¿�AmericanAssociationfor the Study and Cure of Cancer,―and “¿�TheAnti-Cancer Center of the District of Columbia.―The Foundation published two journals.

In August 1948, following a government inspection of his laboratories in Detroit, Dr.Koch announced he was going out of business.The Koch Laboratories were dissolved, and Dr.Koch moved to Brazil where he has lived eversince. In October of that year, however, Carbonyls, Inc. was organized, and distributed theKoch Antitoxins until the Christian MedicalResearch League (Detroit, Michigan) was incorporated as a nonprofit institution inNovember 1948, and became the distributor of

the Koch preparations. This organization wasreported to have discontinued operations as ofSeptember 1958. The Koch Antitoxins are stillbeing distributed, but the present source isnot known.

InvestigationsIn May 1926, The Joursmat of the American

Medicat Associatiomi (“Koch's ‘¿�CancerAntitoxin,'― J.A.M.A. 86: 1469-1472, 1926) reported that in the seven years that had passedsince Dr. Koch announced his discovery, “¿�theWayne County (Detroit) Medical Society hasappointed three committees to investigateKoch's ‘¿�cure.'Each of the three reports hasbeen unfavorable. The last report closed withthe statement: ‘¿�Inno instance have we founda case where the diagnosis of cancer was absolutely established and where no other formof treatment had been used in which a cure orany decided benefit had been obtained.'―

In 1942, the Food and Drug Administrationinstituted action against Dr. Koch and hisbrother, Louis, for shipping the misbrandedKoch Synthetic Antitoxins in interstate commerce, and the Federal Trade Commissionopened an investigation of false claims madein advertising. The Food and Drug Administration case went to trial in January 1943.After four and a half months of testimony,during which 43 government witnesses, including some of the leading medical scientistsin the country, testified that the Koch substances were not efficacious in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of cancer andother diseases, the trial resulted in a hungjury. A second trial which ran for five monthsin 1946 ended in a mistrial when a juror became ill. In 1948 the indictment was droppedafter the Kochs changed the label on theirpro(Iuct so that it no longer claimed a cure.The Christian Medical Research League.which took over the manufacture and distribution of the Koch Antitoxins in December1948, distributed them as prescription drugs.

The Federal Trade Commission investigation resulted in an order, issued in 1951. whichforbids statements that any of the Koch Antitoxins “¿�possesstherapeutic value or that theiruse will be of benefit in the treatment of anydisease of the human body or in animals.― Dr.William F. Koch and Louis G. Koch, as President and Secretary-Treasurer, respectively, ofthe Koch Laboratories, Inc., petitioned theUnited States Sixth Circuit Court of Appealsto review the Cease and Desist Order of theFederal Trade Commission. On July 8, 1953,this Court issued a decision affirming the orderof the Commission and ordering the petitioners to obey it. The decision also stated that

223

Unproven Methods of Cancer TreatmentTime following statement concerning the Koch Antitoxins, Gtyoxylide, Malonide and

Benzoquimmomie, proposed fom' the treatment of cancem by Wittiam F. Koch, Ph.D., M.D., wasrecemitly distributed to the 59 Divisions of the American Cancer Society for their information.

KochAntitoxins

Page 2: Unproven methods of cancer treatment: Koch antitoxins

“¿�therecord as a whole supports the findingsof the Commission that the representationswere misleading and false in material matters,that the pro(lucts have no therapeutic valueand that advertisements were sent both tomembers of the medical profession and to laypersons.― (20fi F2d 311 (CA. 6. 1953)).

In 1943, a report by the Canadian CancerCommission stated that while they had beenunsuccessful in obtaining samples of Koch's(;l@-oxylide for laboratory work, they did receive enough material to use in a clinical trialof nine patients with positive biopsies for

cancer. All the patients (lied within a periodnormally expected. The report of the Coinmission concluded: “¿�Acareful review of allof the evidence presented at this (late failsutterly, in the opinion of the commission. tosuppmmrt the claims made on behalf of the Koch

To ThE EDITOR:The condensation of the article “¿�Sur

vival Aftei- Surgical Ti-eatment of Carcinoma of the Stomach― [Ca 14: 116-118, 1964 , really made it a better article than the original one. I am veryhappy and pleased that you selected itfor publication and appreciate it verymuch.

To TIlE EDITOR:

tieatnient that it is either a remedy or a curefor cancer.―

Further information on the Koch Antitoxins is contained in many articles which haveappea red in Th(' .Jomtm-mmat of the A mnemicamlMedical .4.s-.s-oeiatiomm, beginning in 1926, ofwhich the following are of note:

“¿�The‘¿�Glyoxylide' of William F. Koch.―Report of the Bureau of Investigation.J.A.M.A. 107: 519, 1936.“¿�Cancerand the Need for Facts.― Report of the Council on Pharmacy andChemistry. J.A.M.A. 139: 93-98, 1949.

Aftcr careful study of the literature andother information available to it, the American Cancer Society has found no evidence thattreatment with the Koch Antitoxins results inany objective benefit in the treatment of cancer in human beings.

128, 1964]. My compliments to them,and to Ca, for its publication.

L. H. GARLAND, M.D.San Francisco, California

To THE EDITOR:

In the “¿�Lookingat Cancer― article inthe May-June issue of Ca [14: 119-120,1964: p. 120], while discussing an excellent article by M. B. Goldgraber and

J. B. Kirsner [Cancer 17: 657-665.1964], I am afraid my comment on theirstand in regard to surgery for ulcerative colitis was misleading. Althoughthey regard total colectomy as an excellent operation for certain specific indications, they do not feel that all patients with symptoms over 10 years'duration will necessarily require surgery. As Dr. Kirsner has said, “¿�Thepioblem is a complicated and difficultone requii-ing individual consideration.― I apologize to these authors forimplying otherwise in my enthusiasticcomments on their unique clinical expe rience.

WALTER LAWRENCE, JR., M.D.Assistant Editor, Cance,

New York, N. Y.

L. KRAEER FERGUSON, M.D.Gladwyn, Pa.

I have just finished reading anarticle, “¿�Prophylactic Versus Therapeutic Castration in the Total Treatment of Breast Cancer,― in the MayJune volume of Cc [14: 104-108, 1964].Perhaps someone in your organizationcan tell me what the author said in thearticle. After reading it about fourtimes I wonder why I read it once.

FRANCIS NEUMAYER, M.D.

Lincoln, Nebraska

To TILE EDITOR:

That was an excellent article bySmith and Malmgren on cancer woundsurgical seeding [Ca 14: 90-103, 124-

224