No substitutes are available for the original PC-SPES. Although manufacturers are selling supplements purporting to be substitutes, the PC-SPES mixture is patented and cannot be duplicated. There are no published reports of clinical trials of herbal mixtures that claim to be substitutes for PC-SPES. The only company that had a license from the patent holder to manufacture PC-SPES is no longer in business, and the product cannot be legally manufactured in the United States without the patent holder’s permission. PC-SPES is not legally available in the United States.

Glossary Terms

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called clinical study.

A mixture of eight herbs that has been sold as a dietary supplement and promoted as a way to keep the prostate healthy and to treat prostate cancer. PC-SPES has been studied in the treatment of prostate cancer, but has been taken off the market in the U.S. because of safety concerns.

Adding nutrients to the diet.