Many naturally occurring organohalogens benefit the human race. The chlorinated fungal metabolite called maracen is active against mycobacteria which causes tuberculosis, and punaglandins (contain chlorine), from a South Pacific soft coral, have  anti-tumor activity and in the future may be used in medicine.

     Another anticancer that may be used in the near future to fight cancer is cryptophycin, an organochlorine compound that was extracted from the blue-green algae Nostoc and is more effective than the commercial anticancer drugs Taxol or vinblastine . Cryptophycin is still being researched.

Spongistatin 1, a chlorine-containing sponge metabolite, is one of the most potent compounds ever tested against tumor cells. Other new organic halides inhibit viruses such as HIV. Chemists discover 100 to 200 new organohalogens each year, mostly from marine sources that may be used in medecine. There are only a small percentage of the  500,000 species of marine animals, plants and bacteria that have been chemically evaluated, thousands of other, natural organohalogens are waiting to be discovered. 

     The future is bright and full of promise for these organic halides. Organic halogens have often been labelled harmful but it is clear that they can also be used to save lives and to get rid of some of the most horrid diseases such as cancer and AIDS.