Protecting Ocean Regions With Robotics

1.1 INCREASING BURDEN OF CHRONIC ILLNESS AND EVER-AGING GLOBAL POPULATION

With the ever-aging international inhabitants and the rising burden of continual sickness, there’s an elevated reliance on the healthcare system (notably the biopharmaceutical industry) so as or one to realize and maintain a top quality of life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the burden of human illnesses have been quickly growing for many years with this development predominantly contributed by inhabitants progress and environmental degradation.

1.2 DEFINITION OF MARINE BIOPROSPECTING

Marine bioprospecting is the seek for novel compounds from pure sources within the marine setting. These actions have elevated an excellent deal in the previous few years probably partially because of the continued technological advances enabling additional oceanic exploration, acknowledgement of the wealthy generic variety within the marine biome, in addition to the strain from industry to supply given numerous blockbuster medicine going off patent. Today, about 18,000 pure merchandise have been reported from marine organisms belonging to about four,800 named species. The variety of pure merchandise from marine species is rising at a fee of four% per yr. The improve within the fee of discoveries is essentially the results of technological advances in exploring the ocean and the genetic variety it incorporates. Advances in applied sciences for observing and sampling the deep ocean, reminiscent of submersibles and remotely operated automobiles (ROVs), have opened up beforehand unexplored areas to scientific analysis. Since 1999, the variety of patents of genetic materials from marine species has elevated on the fee of 12% per yr. Marine species are about twice as more likely to yield no less than one gene in a patent than their terrestrial counterparts. Bioprospecting sometimes requires the gathering of a really restricted quantity of biomass for the preliminary discovery. Although additional collections could also be required after a promising discovery has been made, bioprospecting usually doesn’t contain threats to biodiversity similar to the massive biomass removals concerned in harvesting assets for meals or mineral exploitation.

1.three THE SUCCESS OF NATURAL COMPOUNDS IN DRUG DISCOVERY AND BIOPHARMACEUTICAL BACK DROP

Biopharmaceuticals are one of the spectacular achievements of recent science. Many biopharmaceuticals supply excessive efficacy and few negative effects. And there’s far more to return: radically new ideas are making it to the market, and the advances hold coming at a speedy tempo. The success of pure compounds in drug discovery is unparalleled: for antimicrobial and anticancer therapies, for instance, greater than 70% of latest chemical entities launched through the interval 1981-2002 originated from pure merchandise. It has been estimated by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) that 1% of samples from marine animals examined within the laboratory reveal anti-tumor potential (which compares favorably with simply zero.01% of samples of terrestrial origin). In the previous few many years, advances in informatics, automation and imaging know-how have made it potential to display 100,000s – 1,000,000s of small molecules towards a selected organic goal or mobile assay per day, in contrast with 10s-100s of compounds examined on animals over many months beforehand. Growing consciousness of the restrictions of traditionally worthwhile approaches, and breakthroughs in robotics applied sciences, similar to these utilized in separation and construction willpower, have made screening mixtures of structurally complicated pure product molecules simpler, and have expanded the potential position of pure chemical variety within the drug discovery course of

2 THE OPPORTUNITY

2.1 AUSTRALIA CONTEXT

Australia is one among solely 17 mega-diverse nations on the earth and is famend for the individuality of its biota. Australia has a number of options proving engaging to buyers and researchers within the pure merchandise space. This consists of, not least, entry to a various and distinctive biota. More usually, the options of Australia conducive to analysis and business exercise embrace its strong system of law and secure democratic system of presidency, its secure and resilient financial system, clear and environment friendly regulatory surroundings, complete mental property protections and excessive scientific and technological capability. Australia has remained comparatively remoted over time in comparison with most nations. Consequently, Australia has a excessive proportion of endemic species – that’s, species not occurring naturally elsewhere. For instance, within the case of mammals, roughly 83% are endemic to Australia. Australia’s distinctive marine surroundings incorporates the world’s largest areas and highest variety of tropical and temperate seagrass species and of mangrove species; a few of the largest areas of coral reefs; distinctive ranges of biodiversity for a variety of marine invertebrates; and it’s estimated that round 80% of the southern marine species happen nowhere else on the earth. With solely zero.three% of the world’s inhabitants, Australia contributes 2.5% of the world’s medical analysis and a couple of.9% of worldwide scientific publications (Invest Australia, 2007, p.6). In 2005, Australia ranked eighth within the OECD when it comes to the proportion of researchers within the complete labor pressure. This is above the OECD common. On a per capita foundation, Australia has a analysis output twice the OECD common. In phrases of biotechnology analysis, Australia has a number of devoted biotechnology analysis institutes. Australia’s biotechnology industry is steadily rising, with exercise throughout biotechnology fields together with biomedicine, agricultural biotechnology, industrial biotechnology and environmental biotechnology. The Australian Government is a staunch advocate of the home pharmaceutical industry and has been very supportive in implementing initiatives to develop this sector. By any measure, Australian Government help for analysis and improvement within the biopharmaceutical industry has been and appears to proceed to be robust.

2.2 MARINE BIOME REMAINS UNTAPPED/UNDER-INVESTIGATED-THUS PROSPECTS FOR NEW AND MEANINGFUL FINDINGS ARE SIGNIFICANT

Today, biopharmaceuticals generate international revenues of $163 billion, making up about 20 % of the pharma market. It’s by far the fastest-growing a part of the industry: biopharma’s present annual progress fee of greater than eight % is double that of typical pharma, and progress is predicted to proceed at that fee for the foreseeable future. Marine bioprospecting has the potential to additional drive these tendencies. The marine biome stays untapped and beneath investigated, and thus, completely poised to drive each topline and backside line for a number of stakeholders within the biopharma worth chain. Investing in biotech R&D has yielded higher returns than the pharma-industry common. The present biologics-development pipeline helps an outlook of continued wholesome progress. The variety of biotech patents utilized for yearly has been rising at 25 % yearly since 1995. There are at present greater than 1,500 biomolecules present process medical trials, and the success fee for biologics has thus far been over twice that of small-molecule merchandise, with 13 % of biopharma merchandise that enter the Phase I trial stage happening to launch. To date, sampling of marine merchandise has primarily occurred in easy-to-reach coastal waters. As a outcome, 97% of pure merchandise of marine origin are from eukaryotic sources (organisms with complicated cells), with sponges alone accounting for 38% of the merchandise. However, nearly all of the Earth’s metabolic variety resides in prokaryotic organisms (single-celled organisms resembling micro organism) and over 99% of the microbial group of the ocean stays to be explored, so it stands to cause that many extra genetic sequences useful for merchandise are but to be found. There is a specific curiosity in marine species that stay in excessive environments, similar to hydrothermal vents and seamounts (‘extremophiles’). By the top of 2007, solely 10 compounds had been reported from Deep Ocean and ocean trench environments, with an extra seven recognized in 2010. Fewer than 10 marine pure merchandise have to date been reported from scorching vent micro organism. Furthermore, if we break down the varied ecosystems of our seas and oceans and examine the chemical dynamics, coral reefs have notably spectacular potential. The corals that we see are literally made up of colonies that construct up and thrive in an surroundings the place vitamins are low. Although coral reefs solely occupy zero.1% of the world’s ocean floor, they’re one of the crucial numerous ecosystems on earth, internet hosting ~25% of all marine species. The give attention to the coral reef ecosystem as a goal place for medicinal functions just isn’t a brand new idea. As early because the 14th century, coral reefs have been a recognized supply for medicines. One apply at the moment is using fish gall bladder to deal with venomous stings from marine organisms. Today, coral reefs have already contributed its identify within the pharmaceutical industry as one of many supply of biochemical compounds for brand spanking new medicine and the chances are infinite. The alternative shifting ahead is substantial.

2.three SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL MARINE BIOPROSPECTING

2.three.1 Aplidin

One of the early biochemical compounds derived from the ocean is Didemnin, a compound remoted for the remedy of sure cancers. This compound was obtained from the tunicate Trididemnum solidum. Unfortunately, Didemin didn’t survive in later levels of its medical trials. However, after a collection of additional exploration, a relative of the previous species was found to poses comparable traits. The tunicate Aplidium albicans possesses the compound Aplidin® which has an identical construction with Didemnin however far much less poisonous. Aplidin is an anti-tumor, anti-viral and immunosuppressive drug that has been demonstrated to be efficient in pancreatic, abdomen, bladder and prostate cancers. After present process collection of medical check, Aplidin was granted the classification as an orphan drug that particularly treats a number of myeloma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In the United States alone, there are over 45,000 individuals with a number of myeloma and an estimated 15,000 new instances within the U.S. annually.

2.three.2 Yondelis

Yondelis® was developed by the PharmaMar Pharmaceutical Company and was launched out there in 2003. This compound is now bought by Zeltia and Johnson and Johnson. Yondelis incorporates the lively substance Trabectedin. Trabectedin is derived from coral reefs. Specifically from the filter feeding sacs of the small and motionless plant-like invertebrate referred to as sea squirts. Extracts of this reef related species has been discovered to include a remedy for soft-tissue sarcoma and ovarian neoplasm sarcoma. Yondelis was developed because of the National Cancer Institute Screening Program for marine crops and animals. Sea quirts have been collected from reefs of West Indies and studied within the laboratory on the University of Illinois. The anti-cancer biosynthetic compound was then found to be embedded within the symbiotic microorganism inside the sea squirts. Yondelis is produced in a semi-synthetic method, after the extracts from the ocean squirts bear a patented chemical course of. This course of is much less intrusive and fewer demanding to the pure marine biome. Moreover, despite the fact that the utilization of Yondelis is just for uncommon medical circumstances akin to sarcoma, there’s nonetheless potential for this product so as to add a whole lot of worth to the lives of sufferers and different stakeholders. More and extra adopting Yondelis of their prescribing workflow for sarcomas and there are an growing variety of sufferers who’re delicate to medicines containing platinum and Yondelis is among the solely various anti-cancer medicines.

2.three.three Pro Osteon

There are many indications for a bone graft implant (e.g. fusion of the backbone, joints in legs and arms, fractures or gaps in bones brought on by trauma or an infection, oral surgical procedure). In a typical bone grafting process, an artificial materials is formed by the surgeon to suit the affected space of the bone whereas pins or screws are used to carry it in place. This materials builds a help construction the place bone cells can interlace, regenerate and heal. Pro Osteon Implant 500 has a porous microstructure the place new tissues and blood cells can develop, thereby stimulating progress and connects fractured bone segments. Generically referred to as “Bone Void Filler” and permitted by the FDA in 1992, Pro Osteon Implant 500 is clinically confirmed to be protected, robust and price efficient. This materials is sterile, thereby minimizing hostile reactions from the affected person’s immune system rejecting the implant. The effectiveness of Pro Osteon Implant 500 lies in its supply. It makes use of corals from the ocean that has the identical porous interconnected construction of a typical bone graft thereby mimicking the interior construction of a human bone. After present process a patented chemical course of, it converts the coral into hydroxyapatite which is a mineral and the chief structural component of a human bone. At this stage, the implant materials is now additionally osteoconductive which facilitates bone cells to weave into the porous construction. After the process and the therapeutic course of begins, the Pro Osteon Implant will ultimately be coated and changed by bones creating the mended half as robust because it was earlier than. Pro Osteon has nice demonstrated efficacy and a protected side-effect profile. The firm manufacturing this product is projecting no less than $three billion in gross sales by 2017. What’s extra, the manufacturing of Pro Osteon shouldn’t be utterly depending on farming and extracting corals from their pure habitat. Special methods have been developed, which require solely a small portion of coral to be extracted, whereas the stability is grown artificially within the lab-thus selling sustainability and stability of the marine biome.

three THE CHALLENGES

three.1 HOW TO CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY USE MARINE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Despite the truth that marine bioprospecting is comparatively unimposing and the follow doesn’t impose the sustainability danger of varied terrestrial methods, conservationists and the general public nonetheless have some considerations. For one, little or no is understood concerning the conservation standing of many species used as sources of marine genetic assets. Further, many species happen in weak and fragile ecosystems. Many are additionally involved with what we do not know on this comparatively nascent sub-industry at this level. For occasion, the impact on ecosystems of removing of marine genetic assets is poorly understood.

three.2 FEW NATIONS CAN SUCCESSFULLY DO BIOPROSPECTING ON THEIR OWN

Investment in marine biotechnology shouldn’t be with out danger. Sampling at sea prices a minimal of US$ 30,000 per day or US$ 1 million for a month. It sometimes takes 15 years general, and an funding of as much as US$ 1billion, to go from analysis to business product, on account of the truth that many merchandise fail to ship on early guarantees. As a outcome the sector is dominated by comparatively few nations. Patent claims related to marine genetic assets (MGR) originate from solely 31 nations. Ninety per cent of those patents originate from 10 nations (USA, Germany, Japan, France, UK, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and Norway), with 70% originating from the US, Germany and Japan. Despite the excessive ranges of funding required in R&D, biotechnology is a profitable and necessary industry.

three.three THE CURRENT UNCERTAIN AND UNPREDICTABLE LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK DISCOURAGES INDUSTRY (I.E. BIOPHARM COMPANIES) FROM INVESTING THEIR EFFORTS INTO BIOPROSPECTING

The potential of marine bioprospecting has grow to be the topic of worldwide coverage debate (notably for areas past nationwide jurisdiction). One central query is whether or not the potential advantages from marine bioprospecting should be shared by all the worldwide group or solely by the States or particular person firms with the capability to take advantage of them. Various teams are taking a look at this so as to configure probably the most smart set of insurance policies to stability the necessity to promote innovation and technological/biopharmaceutical advances, with the necessity to ensure all stakeholders within the worth chain are appropriately compensated, together with the necessity to make sure the longevity of those pure marine habitats. Increasingly, particular person nation-states are establishing insurance policies that dictate the best way during which protected marine habitats of their jurisdiction could also be used for bioprospecting and different scientific and business pursuits.

three.four COSTS OF BIOPHARM/BIOTECH DISCOVERY

There are operational and technological challenges to bioprospecting and biopharmaceutical discovery usually. Reproducing giant molecules reliably at an industrial scale requires manufacturing capabilities of a beforehand unknown sophistication. Consider this: a molecule of aspirin consists of 21 atoms. A biopharmaceutical molecule may include something from 2,000 to 25,000 atoms (Exhibit 1). The “machines” that produce recombinant therapeutics are genetically modified dwelling cells that have to be frozen for storage, thawed with out injury, and made to thrive within the uncommon setting of a response vessel. The mandatory sophistication comes at nice value. Large-scale biotech-manufacturing amenities require $200 million to $500 million or extra to construct, in contrast with similar-scale small-molecule amenities which will value simply $30 million to $100 million, they usually can take 4 to 5 years to construct. As the variety of merchandise rises and new course of applied sciences akin to steady manufacturing are launched, the complexity of biopharma operations and the biopharma provide chain will improve.

four THE SOLUTION

four.1 HUMAN/ROBOTICS INTERVENTION

First, actions at sea in help of biotechnology have to be distinguished from processes within the laboratory. Commercial expeditions purely to gather marine genetic assets are uncommon to non-existent. Typically, sampling is carried out on scientific analysis cruises, or through the use of downtime on ROVs used within the offshore oil industry. Ocean-going analysis vessels are sometimes owned by nationwide analysis our bodies (e.g. China, UK, US, Brazil, Germany, Japan, France, Russia) or business operations, notably within the offshore oil and fuel sector. With the advances in ROVs, much less and fewer direct human disruption of the marine biome is important. Leveraging ROV know-how permits for minimally invasive techniques that also permits for efficient analysis/discovery/improvement alternatives whereas sustaining the stability in probably the most fragile of habitats. Investing and using ROV know-how can also be safer for all events concerned. As the scientific group continues to analysis extra harmful and less-explored marine habitats, the danger for well being and human security improve. ROVs dramatically reduces this danger whereas allowing analysis and business societies to discover true frontier areas. For instance, Liquid Robotics is a venture-backed agency specializing on this space with their marquee product, the Wave Glider. The Wave Glider is an autonomous, environmentally powered ocean-going platform for gathering and remotely transmitting details about the ocean. Wave Gliders acquire knowledge on temperature, winds, humidity, wind gusts, water temperature, water colour, and water composition. They can even take footage. These robots are gathering plenty of observational knowledge about local weather change, ocean acidification, fisheries administration, hurricane and tsunami warnings, and exploration – however in a inexperienced method. This sort of know-how utilized particularly to marine bioprospecting to additional drive innovation and effectivity on this area.

four.2 HEALTHY PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, CASE-IN-POINT: GRIFFITH/ASTAZENECA PARTNERSHIP

The Griffith University (an Australian University based mostly within the State of Queensland)/AstraZeneca Partnership represents a multi-year, 100 AUD funding by AstraZeneca, has concerned the screening of extracts of wildlife by Griffith University’s Eskitis Institute to determine bioactive molecules as potential leads for pharmaceutical discovery and improvement of novel prescription drugs. More than 45,000 samples of regional biota, each marine and terrestrial, have been collected because the begin of the partnership. Collections have derived from a number of jurisdictions inside Australia. This partnership also needs to function a grounded instance to assist inform future initiatives aimed toward balancing the varied wants to make sure efficient and protected marine bioprospecting. This partnership demonstrated that bioprospecting partnerships can yield constant advantages for supplier nations and for biodiversity conservation over time. The collaborative settlement and consequent funding in Queensland has resulted in vital know-how switch. As a part of the partnership, AstraZeneca offers funding to Griffith University to take part of their bio discovery and commercialization efforts. Griffith University in flip companions with home and abroad amassing establishments to undertake biota collections, make extracts of samples, after which run these samples via excessive throughput screens (HTS) towards targets offered by and of therapeutics curiosity to AZ. Active compounds are then recognized and remoted at Griffith University by way of bioassay guided fractionation, and buildings are elucidated utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Benefits accrued to the vary of collaborators within the partnership – Astra Zeneca, Griffith University, the Queensland Herbarium, the Queensland Museum, and corporations and establishments in China, India, Papua New Guinea, and Tasmania. At the identical time, broader advantages have been achieved or should emerge for the State of Queensland, the Australian analysis group, the Australian public, and the worldwide group. Realized advantages to Australia embrace financial remuneration like charges for samples (or to cowl the prices of an agreed-upon work plan) and royalties. Non-monetary advantages to Australia included the supply of automobiles, gear, know-how, coaching, constructing of a state-of-the-art pure product discovery unit, and elevated information of biodiversity. Benefits to AZ embrace the entry to an enormous pipeline of potential blockbuster medicine which will but serve to profit hundreds (if not hundreds of thousands) of sufferers. Furthermore, new info and knowledge gleaned from the partnerships have gone in the direction of informing extra coverage round conservation and environmental planning and administration all through the area. Many greatest practices for comparable future partnerships might be established from the AZ/Griffith Partnership.

End Note:

Science has a chance now in contrast to another time in historical past to advance mankind using robotics for the betterment of us all.

Source by Todd Kleperis

The post Protecting Ocean Regions With Robotics appeared first on Utah Business Lawyer.

from
http://www.utbusinesslawyer.com/protecting-ocean-regions-with-robotics-2/