Aquatic Biologicals (AB) is a newly founded company (May 2019), spin-off of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR). It is the first Greek marine biotechnology company with an exclusive focus on the management and prevention of diseases in aquaculture using innovative methodologies. Its overall aim is the reduction of the antibiotic use that will result in safe and high-quality products from aquaculture and will contribute to the reduction of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The strategy of the company has been built on two novel and radical ideas for animal production; (a) personalized and (b) precision medicine. Aquatic Biologicals develops autogenous vaccines and phage therapy products. It also provides health management services to aquaculture using advanced tools. State-of-the-art -omics technologies are being employed to accurately identify pathogens and study their significance through molecular epidemiology. Novel approaches such as reverse vaccinology following whole genome sequencing of pathogens are used to select appropriate strains for vaccine development and/or to identify conserved antigenic proteins future product development. AB works closely with the aquaculture industry to develop, tailor-made solution that will target with precision emerging health problem. The company was founded by Dr Pantelis Katharios and the members of his lab, Mrs Dida Kokkari, Dr. Panos Kalatzis, Mariana Tsertou, Maria Smyrli, Maria-Chiara Cascarano and the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research.
Following its establishment, Aquatic Biologicals participated in the national competitive program RESEARCH, CREATE, INNOVATE of the Operational Programme Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2014-2020 (EPAnEK) and ranked first in the Action “Valorization of research results” securing state funding of €835.000 euro as part of €1.8 million. Aquatic Biologicals was selected as one of the 10 most promising start-ups to pitch in two investment events; The Blue Invest Day (https://blueinvest2020.converve.io/) organized by the European Commission in Brussels and the Animal Health Investment Europe which was held in London (https://animalhealthevent.com). Aquatic Biologicals has received the Blue Investment Readiness Assistance Award by the EU.
Blue Invest Day