SeaBeLife welcomes Professor Eric Souied to its scientific committee

Professor Souied is a renowned ophthalmologist and international expert in AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration)
 
He will guide the scientific focus of SeaBeLife’s ophthalmological program, the only one currently targeting two key forms of programmed cell death: necroptosis and ferroptosis
 
Roscoff, France, February 25, 2026 - SeaBeLife, a biotechnology company developing innovative drug candidates intended to block cellular necrosis, today announces the appointment of Professor Eric Souied to its scientific committee.

Professor Souied brings to SeaBeLife his international expertise in the physiopathology and treatment of retinal diseases, particularly AMD. He will contribute to guiding the scientific approach to the company’s program in ophthalmology, especially regarding the cell death mechanisms present in retinal degeneration and the role of lipid metabolism in AMD. He will also advise SeaBeLife on clinical positioning and target populations (early-onset forms, geographic atrophy, etc.), as well as how to structure regulatory strategy and the relevant clinical objectives.

“Understanding the mechanisms governing ferroptosis and their connection with lipids on the retinal pigment epithelium allows us to explore new therapeutic strategies. SeaBeLife’s unique approach is scientifically coherent within this changing field of knowledge and is worthy of development. I am delighted with this opportunity to contribute my expertise in the field and join its scientific committee,” said Professor Souied.

Head of the Ophthalmology Department at the Intercommunal Hospital of Créteil and at Henri Mondor Hospital, Créteil, France, Professor Souied is an international expert in AMD, maculopathies and ophthalmological surgery, in both retinal and cataract eye procedures. He has contributed to more than 650 scientific publications in the field of AMD, hereditary retinal diseases and multimodal imaging. In 1998, he identified the first genetic polymorphism associated with AMD. He is a member of the Macula Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, ARVO, Euretina and the National Academy of Surgery. He was ranked as the fifth top international expert in the field of AMD on the Expertscape website.
 
“The arrival of Professor Eric Souied marks a crucial step for SeaBeLife and we are very grateful to him for agreeing to become a member of our scientific committee. His unparalleled international expertise in the field of AMD and the mechanistic vision of retinal degeneration processes consolidate our program’s sound scientific base, particularly in the key roles of ferroptosis, oxidative stress, necroptosis and the association of inflammation with geographic atrophy. This is a strategic program for SeaBeLife and we are also currently conducting discussions with potential partners to develop it,” said Morgane Rousselot, PhD, co-founder and CEO of SeaBeLife.
 
SeaBeLife is developing a platform for innovative small molecules that can simultaneously target two major programmed cell death pathways, necroptosis and ferroptosis, to meet key medical needs with no therapeutic alternative in acute, rare or chronic indications. At the start of 2025, SeaBeLife delivered promising preclinical efficacy results for SBL03 in geographic atrophy, a severe form of dry AMD. This dual inhibition approach positions SeaBeLife at the forefront of strategies that target the underlying mechanisms of degeneration.

Geographic atrophy, a severe advanced form of dry AMD, characterized by progressive and irreversible loss of vision, is caused by the destruction of retinal pigment epithelium cells and photoreceptors. It affects eight million people worldwide; due to an aging population this is expected to reach ten million by 2040. In Europe and the US, dry AMD represents the leading cause of blindness in people over 50. Currently, there is no medication or treatment available in Europe.

About SeaBeLife
Founded in 2019 in Roscoff, France, SeaBeLife uses its innovative technology platform to develop small molecules that simultaneously target two different regulated cell death pathways - necroptosis and ferroptosis. This unique dual approach, protected by a number of patents already issued in Europe and the United States, positions the company as a global pioneer in the field.
The company is focusing its efforts on two flagship programs, in dry AMD and in severe acute hepatitis, two high medical need indications for which the potential market is worth several billion euros.
Since inception, SeaBeLife has raised €9 million in capital and public financing, won the national i-Nov Competition 2024 and enjoyed the support of major players such as Bpifrance, SATT Ouest Valorisation, Biotech Santé Bretagne and the Région Bretagne regional authority.
SeaBeLife is led by CEO and co-founder Morgane Rousselot, who holds a PhD in biochemistry from Sorbonne University/French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)/Roscoff Marine Station. The company is based on the research work of Stéphane Bach, PhD (CNRS), Marie-Thérèse Dimanche-Boitrel (Research Institute for Environmental and Occupational Health — IRSET) and Claire Delehouzé, PhD, scientific director and partner. With a supportive, motivated and highly skilled team behind it, SeaBeLife aims to develop the next generation of therapies for serious, rare and chronic conditions.
www.seabelife.com