Science Centres: Fisheries

TerraMarine Pharmaceuticals – a joint initiative between NIWA, Crop & Food Research, and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research – filed for its first patent in September 2005.

TerraMarine was set up in 2002 to discover and commercialise new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs derived from plants and marine organisms. In 2003, the TerraMarine group, led by Dr Vicky Webb from NIWA, identified a compound with anti-inflammatory properties from a marine organism.

Members of the team from Crop & Food and Auckland University determined the chemical structure of the compound and created a number of similar synthetic versions. Tests conducted by the Malaghan Institute showed that the natural, as well as several of the synthetic, compounds reduced gout-induced inflammation in tissue cultures and mice. Some of the synthetic versions have proved more effective and are relatively easy to make, says Dr Webb.

She adds: ‘This indicates what a tremendous resource New Zealand’s unique marine and terrestrial biota has for future human health and economic development.’