Unlocking the Full Potential of Omega 3 Biology
The health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, commonly known as fish oil, are well known.
Targeting the molecular mechanism behind their protective action promises a high potential to treat diseases with high unmet need.
Recent discoveries show a crucial role of certain bioactive lipids formed from omega-3 fatty acids to serve as the mediator of the beneficial health effect – the so called “epoxyeicosanoids”.
Omega-3 epoxyeicosanoids, such as 17,18-EEQ and 19,20-EDP, are transformed by CYP P450 enzymes from EPA and DHA as the major omega-3 fatty acids.
17,18-EEQ and 19,20-EDP can mediate anti-inflammatory and cell-protective activity already at concentrations 1.000 times below EPA and DHA levels. However, they are metabolically very unstable, therefore rapidly degraded by the body’s enzymes and thus their natural levels remain very low. Furthermore, their formation and activity vary from individual to individual due to a person’s unique genetic make-up. Several diseases further promote deficiency of these protective molecules. These effects might also explain inconsistent results of clinical studies with omega-3 fatty acid treatments in different diseases.
OMEICOS’ approach overcomes these limitations. Based on in-depth structure-activity-relationship studies we have generated a library of first-in-class, metabolically stable, synthetic analogs of epoxyeicosanoids that mimic the biological activity of their natural counterparts and are independent of dietary supplements and genetic factors of the individual.
OMEICOS’ molecules are specifically activating the AMPK/Sirt1/PGC1-a network and thereby mediating cell protective, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. A key element of the mechanism of action is the improvement of mitochondrial function in cells, a central factor for cell homeostasis in disease conditions.
OMEICOS’ compounds are orally available, safe and convenient to use, and show significantly improved biological activity and pharmacokinetic properties compared to their natural counterpart.