Open Projects
Sea4Pain
Share
342.091,02 € invested by 1593 lenders
800.000 €
54 days left to close
instalment
biannual
term
6 meses
yearly interest
7.85%
risk rating
C
Sea4Us is a biotechnology company dedicated to transform marine-inspired compounds into innovative therapies for unmet medical needs.
Sea4Us leverages the unique chemical compounds found in marine organisms to develop innovative treatments for chronic pain. Marine resources, such as sea sponges, provide a diverse array of bioactive molecules with the potential to target pain pathways. In the framework of its ‘Sea4Pain’ project, Sea4Us is transforming these marine-inspired compounds into optimised and synthesisable pharmaceutical ingredients.
To take the development of Sea4Pain through to the first human trials and its licensing and marketing to the pharmaceutical industry, Sea4Us has launched Sea4Market, approved under the European Innovation Council's (EIC) Accelerator programme, representing a total investment of 5.9 million euros.
The funds raised through this campaign will be used to advance the second payment of the EIC Accelerator grant. The project will strengthen Sea4Us' operational capabilities and its readiness to obtain license agreements with pharmaceutical companies on a global level.
Sea4Pain is a non-opiate analgesic for the treatment of moderate-severe chronic pain. This analgesic acts through a new mechanism of action, which allows for analgesic efficacy equivalent to opiates, but without altering sensory perception, without affecting the brain, and without the unwanted side effects of opiates. This drug, derived and refined from a molecule found in a marine sponge from the Portuguese cost, in Sagres, has proven its efficacy in cellular models and 6 different chronic disease models. The safety observed in the treatment makes it possible to offer a safe and effective alternative to existing pain treatments without the risk of addiction or habituation. This technology has been patented by Sea4Us in key international market regions.
The project will run for three years, starting on 1 March 2024 and ending on 28 February 2027. The main goal is to advance the development of Sea4Us' innovative medicines, particularly Sea4Pain, by financing key R&D activities such as regulated pre-clinical toxicology, clinical trial applications and the execution of first-in-human clinical trials. The project also has the support of the EIC-Fund to accelerate the commercialisation of the drug.
You can learn more here: Sea4Us_Sea4Pain_.pdf
Direct
Contribution to health through research and development of innovative treatments: with the funding, Sea4Us will continue the development of innovative treatments for chronic pain based on marine compounds. Based on research and development processes, the promoter has created a therapeutic drug from molecules found in a marine sponge, with high efficacy and no serious side effects. The promoter focuses on efficient production and development processes that allow for lower material losses and lower production costs, with the aim of keeping costs low and providing a product that is more accessible to patients.
Creation and maintenance of skilled jobs: the implementation phase to be funded by this campaign will result in one person being hired. Sea4Us, which currently has a team of 19 people, contributes to the creation of highly qualified jobs in the Algarve region of Portugal, with 18 highly qualified people, 10 of whom are PhDs.
Indirect
Promoting the quality of life of patients with chronic pain: through treatment with Sea4Pain, patients will be able to access an effective analgesic medication that reduces pain without adverse side effects and without the potential for addiction, representing an important and necessary alternative to the use of opioids. The non-opioid drugs in this solution provide pain relief and contribute to improving patients' quality of life. The commercialization of Sea4Pain will allow Sea4Us to reinvest in its production, developing new drugs for other pressing clinical needs, and delivering treatments that impact people's lives.
Contribution to the maintenance of marine ecosystems and sustainable marine economic activities: the promoter's central purpose is the protection and maintenance of marine resources, carrying out ecosystem monitoring, recording and managing invasive species, and contributing to the repopulation of native species. Sea4Us is a voluntary signatory of the UN Global Compact, a member of the European Animal Research Association and prioritizes transparency and ethics in its processes.
Promoting the economic and scientific development of the Algarve and Portugal: Sea4Us has its laboratory in Sagres, in the Algarve, where biotechnology activities are carried out, mobilizing a network of dozens of active partners to implement projects and disseminate knowledge in this region of Portugal. In this way, it is possible to raise the potential of the country's marine resources and the development of differentiating activities in the blue economy to an international scale, contributing to local economic development. In addition, through partnerships with universities, it contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge, having collaborated on seven master's theses already completed at the company, two doctoral theses completed and another five in progress.
jobs created
Sea4Us is seeking funding to advance the second payment of the EIC Accelerator grant. This loan will be repaid directly through the second grant payment.
This project has a minimum target of 640.000€ . As stated in Part B of the KIIS document (Key Investment Information Sheet), the minimum targeted loan amount is 640.000€, this means the funding campaign can close with any amount between 640.000€ and 800.000€.
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Download the Financial Statements for the promoter here
Download Key Investment Information Sheet
Sea4Us - Biotecnologia e Recursos Marinhos, S.A., founded in 2013, is a Portuguese biotechnology company specialising in the discovery and development of innovative drugs derived from marine compounds. Their focus is to respond to clinical needs without adequate treatment, such as chronic pain or chemotherapy-induced pain, osteoarthritis, overactive bladder and infectious diseases.
Sea4Us was originally created by 7 co-founders inspired by the great marine biodiversity of the Atlantic Ocean in Sagres, southern Portugal, where their Headquarters and Marine Station were born.
Sagres continues to be the main location for the collection of marine samples and the discovery of new bioactive compounds, while pre-clinical development is carried out in Lisbon at the Physiology Laboratory.
A spin-off from NOVA Medical School (Universidade Nova de Lisboa), Sea4Us combines its expertise in marine biology and electrophysiology to identify differentiating compounds, develop them into new drugs, and carry out their pre-clinical validation and safety.
The promoter aims to be a biotechnology company of reference worldwide in the research and development of pharmaceutical products. Sea4Us also intends to systematise and scale up the company's activities and services that promote the sharing and valuing of acquired biotechnological knowledge. The goal is to contribute to the company's scientific and economic sustainability and the development of the Algarve region.
Sea4Us and Sea4Pain have been recognised by the European Union through the ‘EIC-Accelerator’, a Programme of the European Innovation Council (EIC) until the end of 2024. This Programme distinguishes the development of this new medicine and its impact on society and patients' quality of life, and supports its development up to and including the first human clinical trials.
Sea4Us is a Portuguese biotechnology company that develops innovative drugs derived from marine compounds to treat conditions without adequate solutions, such as chronic pain. Based on its own research, it patents technologies such as Sea4Pain, an effective and safe non-opioid analgesic. Recognized by programs such as the EIC-Accelerator, Sea4Us focuses on initial clinical validation in order to later license its drugs to large international pharmaceutical companies.
Market Interest:
Active since
2013
Fiscal country
PT
Operating In
Industry
Health
Women Shareholders
Yes
Website
https://sea4us.pt/en/2025-01-29
This campaign is open for investment