Biosearch

Name

Biosearch

Legal name

BIOSEARCH S.R.L.

Website

https://biosearchsrl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Biotechnology R&D

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAAAIAK

Bio-based Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals & Specialty Bioactives

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Bioenergy, Natural Gas & Biomass/Biorefining & Bio-based Chemicals (Co-products, Bioproducts)

SECONDARYHLAAAIAD

Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Biotechnology & Biologics/Biologic Drug Discovery Platforms (screening, antibody engineering, synthetic biology)

Keywords

• Marine biotechnology research
• Microalgae drug discovery
• Immunomodulator development
• Vaccine adjuvant research
• Marine nutraceutical extracts

Headquarters

HQ city

Napoli

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Licensing and royalties: The company develops proprietary IP-protected molecules and extracts that are offered to Fully Integrated Pharmaceutical or Cosmetic Companies which can bring them to market generating revenues through milestones and royalties for Biosearch
2. Collaborative development agreements: High quality candidates are characterized to preclinical or first stages of clinical development and become objects of specific collaborations with private partners generating milestone payments

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Biosearch discovers and develops novel bioactive molecules from marine microalgae, advancing proprietary candidates up to proof-of-concept in translational pharmacological models. The company produces IP-protected compounds (immunomodulators, anticancer agents, vaccine adjuvants, cosmeceutical extracts) and licenses them to Fully Integrated Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Companies through milestones and royalties. It also conducts contract research, fine-chemical screening, biomass production and AI-driven drug discovery using its marine strain collection.

Product overview

Biosearch is a biotechnology company developing compounds from marine microalgae for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals. The product portfolio centers on three core bioactive compounds: Sulfavant (immunomodulator/vaccine adjuvant), Glycox (anticancer agent), and ImmunoBlu (nutraceutical immunostimulant). These are supported by Skinrep, a cosmeceutical extract base used in finished products including Anti-age UV Shield (daily anti-aging cream with SPF 30+), Urban Serum (anti-pollution cosmetic), and Bioactive Lip Care. Two additional antitumor candidates targeting piroptotic and anti-angiogenic pathways are in the pharmaceutical pipeline.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sulfavant: β-6'-Sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerols vaccine adjuvant compound and related synthetic process patents
• Skinrep
• ImmunoBlu
• Glycox
• Urban Serum
• Anti-age UV Shield
• Bioactive Lip Care

Products and services

• Sulfavant Immunomodulatory lipid compound (β-6'-sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerols) derived from marine microalgae that acts as a vaccine adjuvant by stimulating dendritic cells, NKT cells and macrophages; demonstrated efficacy in melanoma models and in vitro SARS-CoV-2 spike protein tests. Targeted at pharmaceutical companies developing vaccines and immunotherapies.
• Glycox

Quantifiable outcome

• Glycox demonstrated IC50 of 0.5 μg in tumor cells after 24 hours
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PLASTICA ALFA SpAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2018Project partner in C3 - Carbon Capture & Conversion project. Collaborative development of advanced polymer-based photobioreactors.
• CONTROLLI AMBIENTALI SrlminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2018Project partner in C3 - Carbon Capture & Conversion project. Provides environmental control systems expertise.
• SERTECAV SrlminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2018Project partner in C3 - Carbon Capture & Conversion project.
• ORANFRESH SrlminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2018Project partner in C3 - Carbon Capture & Conversion project.
• Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, NaplescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1872, SZN is among the most influential research institutions in marine biology and ecology. It has one of the largest collections of marine microorganisms and expertise in aquaculture, molecular biology, taxonomy of marine phytoplankton and technologies for gene expression. SZN is the host institution for Biosearch and provides access to marine protist collection, biomass production capabilities, and expertise in marine chemical ecology.
• CNR Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, PozzuolicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) is the largest Italian public organization supporting scientific and technological research. The Biomolecular Chemistry Institute focuses on biologically interesting compounds with research lines in isolation/characterization, synthesis, new methodologies, and biotechnological development. Provides expertise in NMR, mass spectrometry, organic synthesis, and medicinal chemistry.
• Azienda Ospedaliera San Giuseppe MoscatiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment of oncology participating in Project Advise for development of antitumor drugs and vaccines from the sea.
• CEBR - Università di GenovaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment of oncology participating in Project Advise for development of antitumor drugs and vaccines from the sea.
• Gruppo MultiMedicaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment of oncology participating in Project Advise for development of antitumor drugs and vaccines from the sea.
• Policlinico San Martino, Università di GenovaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImmunology department collaborating on immunomodulatory compounds research with Professor Raffaele de Palma.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cyanotech Corporation: Hawaiian microalgae producer of spirulina- and astaxanthin-based nutraceuticals and functional ingredients. Comparable to Biosearch's ImmunoBlu and Skinrep product lines in leveraging microalgae biomass for health and personal-care markets.
• Triton Algae Innovations: U.S.-based microalgae platform developing high-value ingredients for food, nutraceuticals and personal care. Comparable in using proprietary algal strains and biomass production systems to feed multiple end markets like Biosearch.
• AlgaEnergy: Spanish microalgae biotech producing bioactives and biomass for agriculture, cosmetics, nutrition and pharma applications. Closely mirrors Biosearch's multi-vertical strategy from a single microalgae platform.
• Marinomed Biotech AG: Austrian marine-sourced biotech developing pharmaceuticals and consumer health products (e.g., iota-carrageenan-based therapies). Directly comparable to Biosearch in extracting and commercializing bioactives from marine organisms for pharma and consumer health.
• Aker BioMarine: Norwegian marine biotech harvesting krill for omega-3 phospholipids and other bioactives used in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Comparable business model to Biosearch: marine-sourced biology, IP-protected extraction, B2B licensing to large health and nutrition players.

Emerging players

• Geltor: U.S. fermentation-based protein company producing animal-free bioactive proteins for beauty and nutrition. An emerging competitor using synthetic biology rather than marine sourcing to produce novel bioactives — comparable in targeting cosmetics and nutraceutical end markets.

Broad incumbents

• Evonik: German specialty chemicals company with biosolutions and pharmaceutical excipient operations. Operates a broader portfolio than Biosearch but competes for the same pharma B2B licensing and ingredient supply relationships.
• Roquette: Global leader in plant-based ingredients (starch, polyols, proteins, bioactives) for pharma, nutraceutical and personal care. Comparable as a buyer or competitor in the bio-based pharmaceutical excipient and nutraceutical space where Biosearch's ImmunoBlu and Skinrep compete.
• Croda International: Global specialty ingredients company with a major personal-care and life-sciences portfolio that includes bioactives and natural extracts. A potential licensing partner and large-scale competitor to Biosearch's Skinrep-based cosmetic ingredient business.
• BASF: Global chemical and biotech conglomerate with active nutrition, care chemicals and agricultural solutions divisions. Comparable as a potential acquirer/licensing partner for marine-derived bioactives, though operating at vastly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Biosearch