“Ocean-to-Pharmacy Pipeline of Natural Product-derived Drugs in Mauritius ”

by Dr Rattan Kumar Gujadhur, CEO MIBL | Dr Daniel MARIE, Officer in Charge, MOI | Dr Dmitry Koltun  

Oceans occupy the largest area of the earth and are still largely unexplored. Due to the diverse and extreme living environments such as variations in temperature, salinity, light, pressure and nutrients, marine organisms have developed unique properties and biologically active molecules compared to terrestrial-based sources. The rich and unique biodiversity of the oceans makes them a logical target for the search for natural products with health benefits. Among the vast array of marine life forms, including bacteria, sponges, fungi, and seaweeds, lie untapped reservoirs of potential ingredients for the development of novel medicines. 

Mauritius, with its 1865 km² area and 330 km of coastline, is surrounded by coral reefs. Its territorial waters stretch far, covering an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 1.9 million km², along with an additional 396,000 km2 managed jointly with the Republic of Seychelles. The island’s unique climate nurtures a rich diversity of marine organisms, many of which are endemic and yet to be fully explored. This abundance of biodiversity serves as a fertile ground for marine natural product chemists, offering endless possibilities for the discovery of innovative bioactive molecules with potential pharmaceutical applications.

It is worth noting that approximately 40% of the pharmaceutical drugs currently in use have origins in natural sources, underscoring the importance and potential of marine-derived compounds in modern medicine. From the isolation of Morphine from poppy seeds, marking a milestone as the first modern pharmaceutical drug, to the synthesis of Aspirin from the willow tree, the discovery of Artemisinin and Quinine for treating malaria, the development of Galantamine for dementia, and the derivation of cancer medications from the Pacific Yew tree and flowers of Madagascar, these instances stand as testified examples of nature’s contribution to modern medicine.

Similarly, oceans have been a source of active compounds for pharmaceutical drugs. Ecteinascidin 743, initially found in a small sea creature, is now used to treat soft tissue sarcoma, ovarian cancer, and other illnesses. Halichondrin B, extracted from a marine sponge, has led to the development of the drug Eribulin, marketed as Halaven. It is an anti-cancer drug utilized for treating breast cancer and liposarcoma.

Value Proposition: 

Development of a library of compounds from ocean resources for Mauritius. 

Project Milestone: