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Algenics and NovImmune announce research collaboration to express human antibodies using microalgae
Posted On: June 28, 2011Algenics announced a new research collaboration with NovImmune to biomanufacture monoclonal therapeutic antibodies using its proprietary expression platform AlgebiosysTM. Two fully human therapeutic antibodies have been retained from NovImmune’s current pipeline to be produced in the PTA microalgal cell line. There are numerous benefits to using microalgal expression systems over current technologies such as advantageous N-glycosylation profile, natural cell robustness and lack of animal-derived components, while retaining the use of conventional upstream and downstream processing equipments. This collaboration with NovImmune will validate this new and innovative system for the biomanufacturing of fully human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.
7th European Conference on Marine Natural Products in August ’11
Posted On: May 19, 2011Time: 14 – 18 August, 2011
Place: Strömstad, Sweden
Organizer: The Phytochemical Society of Europe and the Division of Pharmacognosy at Uppsala University
This conference is the 7th in a series of meetings in the area of marine natural product research which are organized every second year by European researchers. Professor Lars Bohlin and co-workers have received the honorary mission that for the first time be responsible for organization of 7ECMNP in Sweden.
The conference will take place in Strömstad in close collaboration between Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, and Sven Lovén Center, Gothenburg University.
The conference is focused on international research in the area of marine natural product research with emphasis on biodiversity in the sea. The different scientific sessions during the congress are focused on biodiversity, biological activity, structure, informatics, and systems biology.
Bayer Healthcare’s Arctic Wonder market test succeeds with Neptune Krill Oil, leading to launch
Posted On: April 15, 2011Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. announced recently that Bayer Healthcare, LLC Consumer Care Division has formally launched its Arctic Wonder proprietary Neptune Krill Oil (“NKO”) in the United States in March 2011 after a succesful market test.
Bayer’s market test conducted over the last year with NKO® under its Arctic Wonder brand was performed in the US internet direct response e-commerce channel of trade.
“Acasti management team, is delighted by the relationship Neptune has developed with Bayer. This is yet another significant milestone for Neptune’s strategic planning which will help NKO® achieve extensive consumer awareness and appreciation. We are looking forward to a successful long-term collaboration with Bayer”, stated Dr. Tina Sampalis, President of Acasti Pharma.
“The agreement with Bayer, the market test results and the marketing approach for Arctic Wonder NKO® not only create broad consumer awareness, confidence and appreciation but also distinguish NKO® as the superior and prime choice amongst competitor krill oil products”, said Mr. Henri Harland, President and CEO of Neptune.“Arctic Wonder is entering the rapidly growing omega-3 market which has shown a sustained annual growth of 12% according to the Frost and Sullivan Report 2010. The omega-3 category is valued at $1.7 billion and expected to reach $3.5 billion in 2015. We believe the full launch by Bayer of Arctic Wonder will achieve immediate success which will in turn positively influence our growth and increase Neptune’s krill oil market share, reinforcing Neptune’s position as the industry leader and Neptune Krill Oil as the gold standard of quality and efficacy for krill oil products in the market.” he added.
New Marine Drugs Issue Available
Posted On: April 6, 2011New publication from www.mdpi.com.
Marine Drugs
First Evidence of Palytoxin and 42-Hydroxy-palytoxin in the Marine Cyanobacterium Trichodesmium
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(4), 543-560; doi:10.3390/md9040543
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/4/543/
Published online: 31 March 2011
Effects of High Salt Stress on Secondary Metabolite Production in the Marine-Derived Fungus Spicaria elegans
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(4), 535-542; doi:10.3390/md9040535
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/4/535/
Published online: 31 March 2011
The Acute Toxicity and Hematological Characterization of the Effects of Tentacle-Only Extract from the Jellyfish Cyanea capillata
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(4), 526-534; doi:10.3390/md9040526
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/4/526/
Published online: 29 March 2011
Statistical Research on Marine Natural Products Based on Data Obtained between 1985 and 2008
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(4), 514-525; doi:10.3390/md9040514
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/4/514/
Published online: 29 March 2011
Quantification of Dissolved and Particulate Polyunsaturated Aldehydes in the Adriatic Sea
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(4), 500-513; doi:10.3390/md9040500
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/4/500/
Published online: 29 March 2011
MDPI announces publication of new Marine Drugs issue: Volume 9, Issue 3
Posted On: March 25, 2011MDPI announces publication of the following issue:
Mar. Drugs, Volume 9, Issue 3 (March 2011), Pages 294-477 http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/
Table of Contents:
Article: Isolation of a New Natural Product and Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Activities of Extracts from Fungi of Indonesian Marine Habitats Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(3), 294-306; doi:10.3390/md9030294
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/294
Article: Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activity from Algae of the Genus Caulerpa Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(3), 307-318; doi:10.3390/md9030307
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/307
Review: Marine Carotenoids: Biological Functions and Commercial Applications Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(3), 319-333; doi:10.3390/md9030319
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/319
Article: Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Activity of Pseudopterosins and seco-Pseudopterosins Isolated from the Octocoral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae of San AndrC)s and Providencia Islands (Southwest Caribbean Sea) Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(3), 334-344; doi:10.3390/md9030334
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/334
Article: Dynamics of Dissolved and Particulate Polyunsaturated Aldehydes in Mesocosms Inoculated with Different Densities of the Diatom Skeletonema marinoi Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(3), 345-358; doi:10.3390/md9030345
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/345
Article: Lobophorin C and D, New Kijanimicin Derivatives from a Marine Sponge-Associated Actinomycetal Strain AZS17 Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(3), 359-368; doi:10.3390/md9030359
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/359
Article: Chemical Screening Method for the Rapid Identification of Microbial Sources of Marine Invertebrate-Associated Metabolites Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(3), 369-381; doi:10.3390/md9030369
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/369
Article: An Acetylenic Alkaloid from the Calcareous Sponge Leucetta sp.
Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(3), 382-386; doi:10.3390/md9030382
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/382
Review: Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids: Relevant Secondary Metabolites. Chemical and Ecological Aspects Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(3), 387-446; doi:10.3390/md9030387
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/387
Review: Astaxanthin: A Potential Therapeutic Agent in Cardiovascular Disease Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(3), 447-465; doi:10.3390/md9030447
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/447
Article: Preparation of Calibration Standards of N1-H Paralytic Shellfish Toxin Analogues by Large-Scale Culture of Cyanobacterium Anabaena circinalis (TA04) Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(3), 466-477; doi:10.3390/md9030466
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/9/3/466
India: Call for new research proposals towards developing novel anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory drugs
Posted On: February 15, 2011In order to harness the bioactive principles from the vast marine biota occurring in Indian waters for human therapeutic purposes, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, has been implementing a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional Research and Development programme on “Development of potential drugs from ocean (Short title: Drugs from the Sea)” since, 1991.
At present there are 14 different reputed R&D labs including Universities that are actively participating in this program under the coordination of Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow. With a view to strengthen the scope of the programme and draw more fresh talent, in quest for prospecting biomedically useful substances from the seas around India and enhancing their efficacies, a call for new research proposals towards developing novel anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-microbial and antiinflammatory drugs – is being made under the broad categories listed below.
1.Search for bio-actives (small molecules, peptides & proteins) from marine flora & fauna including bacterial resources.
2.Synthetic chemical libraries based on the existing marine natural product leads and chemical transformations of abundant marine natural products to develop NCEs for the above disease areas.
3. Any other activity with the same general objectives.
Researchers in Universities and research institutes in the country are invited to submit detailed project proposals in the prescribed format of MoES. These shall undergo peer-review followed by detailed evaluation and presentation before the Steering Committee. Adequate details should be provided in the proposal to facilitate rigorous evaluation. Selected projects on synthetic chemical libraries will be expected to provide typically 20 or more well characterized synthetic compounds (minimum quantity of 20 mg each of more than 95% purity) per year, based on marine natural product leads, in any of the disease areas mentioned above. The synthetic schemes must be robust for scaling up at later stages.
These projects shall be considered for funding by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) for consumables, justifiable equipment and limited manpower costs for a three year period with yearly performance based renewal. The proforma of proposal can be downloaded from CDRI web site.
Last Date of Application : 25.02.2011
JAPAN: Total Chemical Synthesis of a Marine Natural Product with Significant Anticancer Effect
Posted On: January 27, 2011Cancer is a leading cause of death in Japan, and the development of effective chemotherapeutic agents has been an urgent issue by social demands. It has been known that a number of marine secondary metabolites, or marine natural products, produced by marine organisms have significant anticancer effects with unique mechanisms. As such, marine resources represent a rich source of evolutionary anticancer drugs. However, the availability of marine natural products is often extremely limited, and overexploitation of these resources may cause ecological damage. Therefore, it is necessary to develop reliable means to supply promising anticancer natural products for their detailed biological evaluation toward drug development, and it is most likely that chemical synthesis is the only way to achieve this goal.
A research group led by Associate Professor Haruhiko Fuwa and Professor Makoto Sasaki at Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Japan, has achieved total chemical synthesis of exiguolide, a marine macrolide natural product that was extracted from a sponge collected off the Amami-Oshima Island. In addition, through a collaborative research with Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and the Cancer Chemotherapy Center of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, it was elucidated for the first time that exiguolide exhibits potent antiproliferative activity against several human lung cancer cell lines through an unusual mechanism. By optimizing the molecular structure and elucidating the mechanism through which this natural product exhibits its potent biological activity, their research could help develop evolutionary anticancer drugs and discover new drug targets.
The research result has been published as an Article entitled “Total Synthesis and Biological Assessment of (−)-Exiguolide and Analogues” in the online edition of Chemistry—A European Journal on January 25, 2010.
EVENT – UC San Diego: Pharmaceuticals from the Sea — using marine microorganisms in unimaginable ways
Posted On: January 26, 2011Pharmaceuticals from the Sea: Using marine microorganisms in unimaginable ways
Presented by:
Dr. William Gerwick
Professor, Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine
Scripps Institution of Oceanography & Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
UC San Diego
Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2010
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Location: AMN Healthcare
12400 High Bluff Drive # 100
San Diego, CA 92130
Program Overview:
Pharmacological research reveals that marine cyanobacteria, single-celled organisms often referred to as blue-green algae, have proven to be an effective cancer treatment in recent human clinical trials. Rapidly opening new doors for natural product drug development, cyanobacteria coupled with new screening processes and technology, is allowing for a rich interface of creative research in anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity.
In addition to its pharmacological implications, cyanobacteria and algae are especially rich in lipids that are being studied for their usefulness in creating renewable biofuels. While there are currently many unknowns about reliably producing enhanced lipid yields without negatively effecting its growth, researchers at UC San Diego are looking to overcome these obstacles.
In this lecture, Dr. William Gerwick, Professor in the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, will discuss the recent discoveries being made at the Gerwick Research Laboratory. These breakthroughs will illustrate the application of techniques in the more effective investigation of marine cyanobacteria and other microalgae for pharmaceutical lead compounds as well as biofuel-relevant lipids.
Who Should Attend:
Scientists, engineers, physicians, healthcare leaders, venture capitalists, technology and life sciences professionals, services providers and business leaders.
Japan: Nagoya University Presents Work on Synthesis of Marine Natural Products
Posted On: January 6, 2011The Nagoya University Lecture, known colloquially as the Meidai Lecture, is one of the highlights of the academic year at Nagoya University and is an opportunity for the institution to showcase its connections to world-class researchers from around the globe whose careers have had strong links to the university. Recent recipients of the lecture award have included Nobel laureates Sir Harold Kroto, Osamu Shimomura, Toshihide Maskawa, Makoto Kobayashi and carbon nanotube pioneer Sumio Iijima.
The 2010 Autumn Nagoya University Lecture was entitled ‘Using chemistry to unravel the secrets of life: From natural molecules to drugs’ and honored two outstanding figures of the world of synthetic organic chemistry: Professor Yoshito Kishi of Harvard University and Colombia University’s Centennial Professor Emeritus, Koji Nakanishi.
The natural world is the source of an unimaginable variety of complex molecules, some of which are highly beneficial or even essential for human life while others are lethally toxic in the minutest quantities. The science of constructing these naturally occurring compounds step-by-step from scratch in the laboratory is known as natural product ‘total synthesis’, and depending on the complexity of the target this process can involve a route comprised of many tens or even hundreds of chemical steps that often take teams researchers many years to devise. Both Kishi and Nakanishi are world leaders in the science of total synthesis and have a combined total of over a century of experience in the field.
US: Newsweek Magazine showcases hunt for medical cures underwater
Posted On: November 24, 2010Advances in technology are making it easier and increasingly profitable to hunt for drugs in the ocean. Marine bioprospectors, as they’re known, are scouring coral reefs, deep-sea trenches, and everything in between. David Newman, chief of the natural products branch at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), estimates that at least 30 research teams are experimenting with marine-derived compounds for treating cancer, neural degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, malaria, diabetes, depression, asthma, and other ailments.
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