TECHNOLOGY
Sea4Us combines its core expertise in Marine Biology and Electrophysiology and focuses on compound library generation, drug discovery and preclinical development from marine substances and compounds. We screen such compounds against a number of therapeutic targets.
MARINE BIOLOGY
PHOTOGRAPHY João Rodrigues | CHIMERAVISUALS
Our discovery begins in the ocean: the interaction between species and their compounds’ bioactivities are the initial phase of our process of drug discovery. Millions of years of evolution on marine animals resulted in highly specialized and ingenious solutions for defense against predators, comprising compounds that have demonstrated a wide range of pharmacological properties.
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
PHOTOGRAPHY João Rodrigues | CHIMERAVISUALS
The elecrophysiological testing allows to assess neuronal bioactivity for each compound of our compound library as 0ur therapeutic targets are the ion channels involved in pathologies. After such validation, in silico and ex vivo assays are performed to assess toxicity levels.
PIPELINE
development phase
therapeutic area
discovery
Preclinical trials
Clinical trials
– phase 1
Clinical trials
– phase 2a
Neuropathic Pain
Inflammatory Pain
Cancer Pain
urology
immunology
infectious diseases
METHODOLOGY
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DIVING AND SAMPLE COLLECTIONMarine ecosystems comprise a continuous resource of immeasurable chemical entities that have been optimized for bioactivity during millions of years of evolution. Sea4Us has its own diving team and our discovery begins in the ocean: the interaction between species and their compounds’ bioactivities are the initial phase of our process of the discovery.
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LIBRARY OF MARINE EXTRACTSAs more marine compounds become purified and tested for their bioactivity, more important medical applications will inevitably be discovered.
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DRUG SCREENINGSea4Us specialises in electrophysiological testing in order to assess neuronal bioactivity for each compound of its library. We screen such compounds against a number of molecular targets (ion channels) such as NaV, KV, CaV and TRP channels. Such experimental screening is complemented by computational in silico analysis that tune the development of innovative molecules.
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IP PROTECTIONPatents for the new bioactive compounds (including variants), their modes of action and their syntheses methods are obtained.
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LEAD COMPOUND OPTIMIZATIONThe most promising molecules and variants are selected by analysis of their efficacy, toxicity and pharmacokinetics profiles, by in vitro, in vivo and in silico methodologies.
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PRE-CLINICAL VALIDATIONThe selected molecules are tested through more thorough in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo efficacy, toxicity and pharmacokinetics assays.
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CLINICAL TRIALSAfter passing all required preclinical tests, the new pharmaceutical drugs under development will enter clinical trials.
Animal Research at Sea4Us
Sea4Us is a signatory to the Transparency Agreement on Animal Research in Portugal. This is an initiative supported by the scientific community in collaboration with the European Animal Research Association (EARA) to promote transparency and openness about the use of animals in biomedical research in our country.
Sea4Us records the vital role that the use of animals plays in scientific research in terms of contributing to the knowledge and well-being of humans and animals, and implements the principle of the 3Rs – Replacement, Reduction and Refinement -, to ensure that it uses the least amount of animals possible, always focusing on animal well-being throughout the experiments. The welfare of animals used in research is a fundamental issue and research carried out in our institution strictly respects Portuguese (Decree-law no. 113/2017, of August 7) and European (Directive no. 63/2010/EU) regulations that govern the use of animals in research.
The humane use of animals in research carried out at Sea4Us complies with legal standards and is reviewed by the Ethics Committee and the Body responsible for animal welfare that promotes the principle of the 3Rs. No research project that requires the use of animals begins without an assessment of both animal welfare and an ethical assessment and authorization from the competent authority. It is also ensured that both the people responsible for caring for the animals and the researchers involved in animal experimentation have the necessary training and knowledge to carry out animal research.
