Sea4Us, a Portuguese biotechnology company developing medicines inspired by marine resources, has received an investment from Insight Venture as its lead non-opioid analgesic enters clinical development. The amount of the investment was not disclosed.
Insight Venture announced the investment in a LinkedIn post, writing that venture capital should support companies able to combine “scientific knowledge, real impact, and international ambition.”
It added that it backed Sea4Us because of its “differentiating and protected science,” response to a significant medical need, highly specialized staff, potential for internationalization, and ability to create economic value and positive impact.
Insight Venture also noted that its involvement would extend beyond providing capital. The firm is represented on Sea4Us’ board of directors and will support the company in areas including strategy, financing, governance, and preparation for its next stages of development.
Sea4Pain and its lead candidate
Founded in 2013 as a spin-off from NOVA University Lisbon, Sea4Us combines marine biology and electrophysiology to identify compounds with therapeutic potential, particularly for conditions involving ion channels as therapeutic targets.
Its main program, Sea4Pain, focuses on developing a first-in-class, non-opioid analgesic for acute and chronic pain. Sea4Pain is the name used for the wider project, while S072 is the specific lead drug candidate now under the first phases of clinical development.
S072 is a new chemical entity and small molecule inspired by a marine compound and optimized for human health. According to Sea4Us, it acts on hyperactive peripheral neurons through selective modulation of key ion channels.
The data shows this peripheral mechanism allows powerful analgesia without side effects on the central nervous system, eliminating risks of addiction, sedation, or cognitive deficit.
As Sea4Us shared with Portugal Startup News, these findings are based on preclinical studies and are now being evaluated in humans.
Approval for first-in-human testing
Sea4Us announced recently that regulatory authorities had approved its clinical trial authorization application for S072. The clinical activities started in May of this year.
The approval allowed the company to begin first-in-human (FiH) activities, with the single ascending dose (SAD) successfully completed on July 24, with no safety concerns and no adverse events registered. The initial clinical strategy focuses on post-surgical pain before expanding to chronic pain indications.
S072 is intended for oral administration up to twice daily. Sea4Us said it demonstrated an excellent safety profile in preclinical GLP and FiH testing, with superior preclinical efficacy in direct comparisons with standards of care, including morphine.
According to the company, the compound was well tolerated across the doses tested, with a high safety margin, both in preclinical species and FiH tests.
Proof-of-concept efficacy data were generated in six validated animal models of disease, including postoperative pain, osteoarthritic pain, trigeminal neuralgia, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, visceral pain and inflammatory bowel disease, and monoarthritic pain.
Clinical materials ready
Sea4Us has established the industrial scale-up process for S072, with GLP- and GMP-certified qualifications and high purity.
The Drug Product has shown a good stability profile, with approved 24-month shelf life, with ongoing International Council for Harmonisation standards testing to expand it. Accelerated Stability Test (ASAP testing) predicted a shelf-life of at least seven years.
Three patent applications have been submitted. Two have been granted in the United States, while the third entered the Patent Cooperation Treaty process in 2025 and was published in January 2026. A fourth patent is being prepared for a provisional application in Q4 2026.
Targeting an unmet need
Chronic pain is generally defined as persistent or recurrent pain lasting more than three months. It is considered a condition rather than solely a symptom and can involve biological, psychological, and social factors.
An estimated 100 million people in Europe and 1.6 billion worldwide live with chronic pain. The condition has been linked to depression, higher suicide rates, substance use and misuse, and reduced quality of life.
Its impact also extends to family relationships, social life, and employment. In Europe, absenteeism, reduced productivity, and a higher likelihood of leaving the workforce are estimated to cost approximately €500 billion each year.
Existing medicines are ineffective for some types and degrees of pain. Opioids can also cause significant side effects and carry risks of addiction and dependence, leaving some patients and physicians with limited therapeutic options.
Recognizing the potential of its approach to addressing this unmet medical need, Sea4Us was selected for the European Innovation Council Accelerator, securing €2.5 million in non-refundable financing and an investment component of up to €2.4 million.
Featured image: Underwater life in Sagres, Algarve, Portugal (Photo courtesy of Sea4Us)
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