MabCent SFI

MabCent-SFI is one out of fourteen Research-Based Innovation Centers initiated by the Research Council of Norway, and is the only one within the field of “bioactive compounds and drug discovery” based on bioactives from marine organisms. Thus MabCent-SFI maintains a focus on bioactives from Arctic and sub-Arctic organisms searching for compounds for innovation and commercialization in areas where Norway currently has the potential to achieve a strong international position. The four commercial MabCent partners (*) are parts of an R&D synergy that includes different areas (pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, research tools etc.) and stages of development.

Through their interaction with the interdisciplinary expertise at the University of Tromsø and academic partners, the MabCent initiative helps stimulate research and innovation and the creation of standards for future marine-based discovery and development within marine bioprospecting and biotechnology.

At the end of 2011, MabCent has tested over 200,000 extracts/fractions. Among these, scientists have identified several hundred "hits," some of which will eventually become valuable "leads", i.e. characterized compounds known to possess biological effects of interest.

Commercial partners in MabCent: Biotec Pharmacon ASA/ ArcticZymes AS, ABC BioScience AS, Lytix Biopharma AS and Pronova Biocare ASA