Fucoidan's promise: Marinova eyes opportunities in wound healing and inflammation

Marinova is an Australian biotechnology company specialising in the research, development, and manufacture of fucoidan compounds, which are naturally found in brown seaweed.

The firm recently announced the completion of a $5 million expansion to its fucoidan extraction facility.

It said the expansion was motivated by the global demand for fucoidan, which is used in cosmetic, nutritional, and pharmaceutical applications.

The company sees potential for this ingredient in cosmetics, particularly for addressing chronic skin conditions as there is a wealth of research on its skin benefits.

“Increasing research attention is being placed on the potential anti-inflammatory and wound-healing capabilities of fucoidan,” said Dr Ellie Paine, business development and scientific officer, Marinova.

“Chronic inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are estimated to affect almost one-third of the world’s population, increasingly prompting researchers to investigate natural and effective means by which to alleviate their significant global health burden.”

Paine highlighted a broader shift in skin care towards marine ingredients, reflecting trends such as sustainability, clean ingredients, and blue beauty.

“Researchers searching for compounds that protect against environmental damage and support skin barrier function are increasingly turning to natural marine metabolites. In addition to proven efficacy, many marine compounds – fucoidan included – offer distinct advantages in terms of non-toxicity and sustainability.

The increasing demand for fucoidan also aligns with consumers' preferences for evidence-based solutions.

“Supporting the growth is mounting scientific evidence investigating the potential benefits of fucoidan. There are now more than 3,500 published papers attesting to the bioactivity of fucoidan in numerous human health indications, including skin health,” said Paine.

Driven by this robust scientific foundation, Paine anticipates a surge in demand for fucoidan.

“High purity, certified organic fucoidans are well suited to brands looking to satisfy consumer demand for ingredients supported by scientific evidence and underpinned by a genuine sustainability story… We expect to see innovative brands look to incorporate fucoidan into products supporting inflammatory skin conditions in the future.”

In addition to topical applications, Marinova has observed a growing demand for beauty supplements.

“Consumers now recognise that skin health begins below the surface. Marinova is increasingly supporting skin care brands to incorporate nutraceutical beauty-from-within supplements into their product range,” said Paine.

She added that the firm will focus future research on the beauty supplement area.

“Fucoidan represents an exciting market opportunity for brands looking for innovative nutraceutical ingredients, particularly those that support immune function, gut health and healthy ageing. These are key areas in Marinova’s global R&D program.”

Meeting global demand

Marinova’s new extraction facility will triple the company’s production capacity.

“This significant capital investment will enable Marinova to meet rising global demand for its high purity fucoidan extracts, particularly from the consumer healthcare, medical device and pharmaceutical sectors,” said CEO Paul Garrott.

The expansion mirrors Australia's broader initiative to enhance the country's innovative marine biotechnology industry.

Spearheaded by a national consortium known as the Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre (MB-CRC), over $270 million is currently being invested in research and development (R&D), a portion of which is accelerating Marinova's global fucoidan research program.

Projections indicate that Australia's premium marine bioproducts are poised to achieve a turnover of $1 billion by 2030.