MARINE-DERIVED COMPOUNDS: A NEW FRONTIER IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH

Abstract

New 'validated' structures with novel methods of action that occupy chemical space relevant to biology may be found most abundantly in the understudied marine realm, which is also predicted to have the highest biodiversity.  Effective medication development of these sometimes-complicated chemicals requires addressing a number of issues, including target identification and supply issues, but there are ways to get over these barriers.  Technological developments in fields including fermentation, biotechnology, total chemical synthesis, nanoscale NMR for structure elucidation, and sampling techniques are critical to the efficacy of marine natural compounds as therapeutic leads.  We demonstrate the high level of innovation in the marine natural goods sector, which we think will lead to the future release of a new generation of pharmaceuticals in stores and on the market.