SeaBeLife, a biotechnology company specializing in the development of treatments targeting regulated cell death pathways, today announced the appointment of Professor Eric Souied to its scientific committee.
Professor Souied will bring his international expertise in the physiopathology of retinal diseases, particularly AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration), and their management. He will contribute to the scientific direction of SeaBeLife’s ophthalmology program, focusing on the mechanisms of cell death involved in retinal degeneration and the role of lipid metabolism in AMD. SeaBeLife will also benefit from his advice on clinical positioning and target populations (early forms, geographic atrophy, etc.), regulatory strategy structuring, and relevant clinical objectives.
“The understanding of ferroptosis mechanisms and their connection with the lipid pathway in the retinal pigment epithelium now allows for new therapeutic strategies. SeaBeLife’s unique approach is scientifically consistent with this evolving knowledge and deserves to be developed. I am delighted to contribute my expertise in this field and join their scientific committee,” explained Professor Souied.
As Head of the Ophthalmology Department at the Intercommunal Hospital of Créteil and Henri Mondor Hospital, Professor Souied is an international expert in AMD, maculopathies, and ophthalmic surgery (retina and cataract). He has contributed to over 650 scientific publications in the field of AMD, hereditary retinal diseases, and multimodal imaging. In 1998, he identified the first genetic polymorphism involved in AMD. He is also a member of various ophthalmology societies and has been recognized as a leading expert in ophthalmology in France.
Professor Eric Souied’s arrival marks a crucial step for SeaBeLife, strengthening the scientific foundation of their program with his unparalleled expertise in AMD and retinal degeneration processes. SeaBeLife is actively engaging potential partners to further develop this strategic program.
SeaBeLife is developing a platform of innovative molecules targeting two major regulated cell death pathways: necroptosis and ferroptosis. In early 2025, the company obtained promising preclinical efficacy results for SBL03 in geographic atrophy, a severe form of dry AMD. This dual inhibition positions SeaBeLife at the forefront of approaches targeting fundamental degeneration mechanisms.
Geographic atrophy, a severe and advanced form of dry AMD leading to progressive and irreversible vision loss, is caused by the destruction of retinal pigment epithelium cells and photoreceptors. It affects 8 million people worldwide, a number expected to reach 10 million by 2040 due to population aging. In Europe and the United States, it is the leading cause of blindness in patients over 50 years old. Currently, there is no available treatment in Europe for dry AMD.
Source: SeaBeLife
