UK Trade and InvestmentRole & Services - ITT & Overseas Teams

BIA regional workshop

Cambridge

United Kingdom Trade & Investment

“UK Strengths in Marine Biotechnology”

UK & Portugal: New Techniques to Develop the Potential of Ocean Resources

Lisbon, March 18th, 2008

Dr J B Iain Cloughley, Global Business Development Consultant

UKTI is a government agency set up to promote the interests of UK companies trading with other nations.

UKTI also encourages other nations to invest in UK to benefit from UK’s renowned R&D infrastructure, its established biotech manufacturing base, its position as the ‘Gateway to Europe’, and the strength of the City of London as one the world’s foremost financial centres.

UKTI has representation in just about every UK Embassy, Consulate and High Commission throughout the world. Please contact us to find out about how UKTI can help you and your company invest and develop in the UK bio-economy

What is UKTI and What Do We Do?

UK Marine Biotech & Aquaculture

� As an island nation, UK has exploited the seas for many years.

� New imperative: marine resources must be optimally utilised.

• In the biotech era, UK scientists and companies have been ‘bioprospecting’ and have discovered and developed a range of:

• pharmaceuticals.

• diagnostic reagents.

• extremophile enzymes.

• nutritional supplements.

• biomaterials with novel properties.

UK: Rich Marine Environments

� UK surrounded by several different seas with different characteristics, creating a myriad of environmental niches.

� Huge range of organisms; both micro- and macro-.

� Established tradition of harvesting the seas.

� Developing sustainable systems for realising the full potential of marine resources.

Marine or Blue Biotech

� Existing global market for products over US$3 billion.� Enzymes: e.g. extreme thermophiles from Thermal Vent

organisms mediates PCR which underpins DNA amplification, ‘finger-printing’, the Human Genome Project

� Anticancer agents: e.g. Ara-C from a Caribbean sponge� Antimicrobial agents: e.g. actinomycete actives against

MRSA and other resistant pathogens� Bioluminescent agents: biosensors for analytical,

clinical, and environmental monitoring and control� Aquaculture: one of the world’s most rapidly growing

food producing industries: salmon farming earns over US$2 billion for Scottish economy; vast potential for other species including cod.

UK Strengths in Marine Biotechnology

Marine Biotechnology

Aquaculture

Tissue Engineering

Environment Technology

Oncology

Enzymes

Immunology

Antibiotics

Research on Algal Derivatives as Anti-Viral,Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Cancer Agents

Algae

ExtractionTechniques

BiomedicalAssays

Extract Library

Pre-clinical Tests

Compounds

Biologicals

Products&

Services

Research Institutes and Bioprospecting Companies

Collaboration with Pharma Industry

Research on Marine Collagen in Cartilage Repair

– cell compatible

– porous structure for optimal chondrocyte adhesion

– vital chondrocytes

– strong autologous collagen expression

Marine collagenbioscaffold:

Bioscaffold

Chondrocytes in bioscaffold

Research on Collagen from Marine Invertebrates in Wound Healing

UK Aquaculture

� The success of aquaculture has been spectacular - in one generation aquaculture has done what animal husbandry on land has achieved in 10,000 years.

� The UK now earns significant revenue from selling aquaculture technology, services and know how.

� Fish produced by aquaculture is set to exceed that from fisheries.

� This has created problems in terms of feed supply and in the safe disposal of processing waste.

� Developing sustainability and more effective utilisation of resources is essential and UK companies are in the forefront of this movement.

� Sustainable aquaculture is the best hope for feeding a hungry world – especially in tropical countries, where herbivorous freshwater species are being successfully utilised in integrated systems. UK research institutes and companies are committed to this development.

Sustainable Mariculture:Farmed Seaweed for the Cosmetic and Food Industries

Over 50 long-established marine research institutes and university departments, with a tradition of industrial collaboration and commercial enterprise

The Scottish Association for Marine Sciences (1884): novel natural products from marine bacteria. Bio-emulsions and bio-surfactants for healthcare, pharmaceuticals and food products. Hosts the European Centre for Marine Biotechnology and the Culture Collection of Algae & Protozoa, a unique resource with over 2,000 strains across 475 genera.

Plymouth Marine Laboratory: marine viruses of microalgae and bacteria; cell signalling and nutrient uptake in biofilms and biofouling; bacterial-trace metal interactions.

Marine Biological Association has had 7 Nobel Laureates

Strong and Established R&D Excellence

Examples of UK Marine Biotechnology Companies

� Aquapharm Bio-Discovery: bioprospecting for novel anti-bacterials in marine compounds;have discovered potential solution to MRSA infection. Developed bacterial production systems for carotenoids, including astaxanthin (used to colour salmon).

� Integrin Advanced Biosystems Ltd: have established seafood safety and shellfish toxin testing techniques. Developing enabling technologies in bioprospecting, data mining and product characterisation.

� Knight Scientific Ltd: developed and commercialised bioluminescent compound extracted from Pholas dactylus and produces highly sensitive test kits for clinical use and for use in the nutritional supplement, food and cosmetic industries.

� Seven Seas: developed and commercialised first drug approval for a marine fish oil product for the treatment of coronary heart disease.

� Laxdale/Amarin: developing Omega-3 pharmaceutical products for the treatment of Huntington’s Disease, Unresponsive Depression and similar conditions.

� Ocean Biotechnologies Ltd: extracting Omega-3 oils and high-value protein and polypeptide products from fish and shellfish processing waste streams.

� Marine Resource Management: harvesting algal biomass from open ocean plantations for the production of biofuels.

� BioVault Ltd: cryopreservation of biological tissues by protection with compounds extracted from Arctic microorganisms.

Examples of Aquaculture/Biotech Companies

� Landcatch Natural Selection: uses genetic tools to improve growth, survival and harvesting of fish.

� Aquatic Diagnostics: develops and commercialises monoclonal antibodies to monitor pathogens and improve fish health.

� Kames: designs equipment for aquaculture production systems for a wide variety of species; supplies complete turnkey production packages.

� Fusion Marine: advises, designs, supplies and installs all technology related to setting up or expanding fish farms.

� Stirling Aquaculture: consultancy group with well established expertise in the design of production systems and all aspects of fish farming all over the world.

� Seabait Ltd: supplies polycheate marine worms and production systems for specialised feeds for the immature stages of the farmed fish production cycle.

� Companies with expertise in non-salmonoids: Johnsons Sustainable Seafoods for cod; Aquabella Group for barramundi; Selonda UKfor sea bass; etc.