Marine natural products: a new wave of drugs?

Abstract

The largely unexplored marine world that presumably harbors the most biodiversity may be the vastest resource to discover novel 'validated' structures with novel modes of action that cover biologically relevant chemical space. Several challenges, including the supply problem and target identification, need to be met for successful drug development of these often complex molecules; however, approaches are available to overcome the hurdles. Advances in technologies such as sampling strategies, nanoscale NMR for structure determination, total chemical synthesis, fermentation and biotechnology are all crucial to the success of marine natural products as drug leads. We illustrate the high degree of innovation in the field of marine natural products, which in our view will lead to a new wave of drugs that flow into the market and pharmacies in the future.

Figure 1

Marine drugs on the market and conditions treated.

Figure 2

Examples of marine natural products in different phases of clinical trials.

Figure 3

Examples of bioactive secondary metabolites produced by marine organisms adapted to their extreme environmental conditions or arising from symbiotic interactions.

Figure 4

Examples of highly potent marine natural products, with unusual or novel mechanisms of action, with promising biomedical applications.

Figure 5. Macrolide marine secondary metabolites from the marine sponge Phorbas sp

Nanomole structure-determination techniques allowed for more efficient exploration of this sample revealing unique metabolites. Data from [46].

Figure 6. Predicted a new wave of drugs from the ocean, achieved through the synergistic combination of advanced technologies

SAR: Structure–activity relationship.