NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Take two M&M's and call me in the morning?

The Financial Times reports that candy maker Mars Inc. is set to
release research Monday that it says shows that a basic component of
cocoa could help treat ailments including diabetes, stroke and vascular
disease.

The privately held maker of M&M's, Snickers and 3 Musketeers is also
expected to announce that it has discovered how to replicate these
beneficial compounds, known as "flavanols." And the company will tell
scientists meeting in Switzerland that it is in "serious discussions"
with drugmakers about licensing the development of "synthesized
flavanols."

"The mounting scientific evidence on coca flavanols is extraordinary,"
Harvard Medical School professor Norm Hollenberg told the paper. "This
is a scientific breakthrough that could well lead to a medical
breakthrough."

Hollenberg has shared research with Mars, according to the paper.

The paper reports that flavanols have been found in other foods other
than cocoa, including green tea, red wine and tomatoes, and previous
studies have shown the advantages of including flavanols in diet. Still
even a researcher at Mars admits this breakthrough was somewhat
unexpected.

"We are in a position that none of us could ever have imagined,"
Harold Schmitz, Mars' chief science officer, told the paper. "We have a
valuable asset that's not just about food, it's about the
pharmaceutical sector."