Monday, September 13, 2010

MARBIONC Development Group LLC, a not-for-profit entity associated with the Center for Marine Science at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, has entered into an agreement with Cary, N.C.-based Ocean Therapeutics, Inc. (OTI) to out-source the licensing of MARBIONC research products to pharmaceutical, biomedical research, nutraceutical and related companies for further development and marketing.

Daniel Baden, director of UNCW's Center for Marine Science and executive principal for MARBIONC, said the agreement will strengthen significantly the abilities of MARBIONC to bring its ocean-sourced substances to the marketplace.

"The principal partners in OTI have impressive backgrounds in business, marketing and medicine, as well as high-level contacts in the pharmaceutical industry," said Baden. "They will be able to use their long-term relationships to further our licensing and marketing opportunities, as well as to bring other collaborative partners to MARBIONC. The end result will be further economic development for North Carolina."

The two entities will work together to license the substances brevenal and beta-naphthoyl brevetoxin – developed through MARBIONC's research program – to pharmaceutical companies. Both substances are in the pre-investigational new drug (pre-IND) phase of development. MARBIONC is conducting additional animal toxicology studies to determine their viability to treat cystic fibrosis, COPD and other pulmonary/respiratory disease. Preliminary data indicate these compounds are therapeutically effective and have a one thousand-fold safety factor compared to substances already on the market.

There is substantial research opportunity in the extraordinary diversity of marine organisms, according to Alastair McEwan, chief executive of OTI. "We have seen marine biology succeed with delivering effective and safe medicines, and we anticipate future successful products through our collaboration with MARBIONC and their world class staff and resources," he said.

The agreement between MARBIONC and OTI includes other important biotechnology initiatives:
• MARBIONC has created a large chemical library obtained from its unique collection of culturable marine microalgae and bacteria. OTI will market this diverse chemical library to third-party research and pharmaceutical companies, which will screen them for active compounds with potential commercial use.

• Further study of a series of proprietary compounds currently under investigation may lead to the development of novel narrow-spectrum antibiotics, which target specific harmful bacteria without affecting beneficial bacteria. Such new antibiotics could address concerns about the growing resistance of certain bacteria to current broad-spectrum antibiotics, while avoiding the side effects of others.

• Alternative production of beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids from marine algae, which is safer and more sustainable than fish, the primary source for Omega-3 supplements currently on the market. Obtaining beneficial fatty acids directly from marine algae may address concerns about the level of contaminants that can be found in some fish-sourced fatty acid products.

Jeffrey Wright, UNCW Distinguished Professor of Marine Science and MARBIONC research director, said OTI clearly recognizes the value of the breadth and scope of the research and development activities conducted by the MARBIONC group.

"Our work in marine biotechnology is focused on bringing new marine-based discoveries to the marketplace," he said. "This collaboration with OTI underscores the commercial potential of our work."

Media contact: Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, UNC Wilmington, 910.508.3127 or fischettid@uncw.edu