Nature's Deepest Pharmacy: Why India's Deep Ocean Mission Should Look Beyond Minerals

  •   Wed, Sep 09 2026
  •   By Rishika Devdas Pai

September 9, 2026

Does the thought of exploring the depths of the ocean, discovering unknown species, or finding valuable minerals excite you? That was exactly how I felt when I first learned about India's Deep Ocean Mission. But as I read more, I began to wonder: what other secrets could be lurking in the depths of the blue?

Could there be something humanity has yet to uncover? Something that could be invaluable to people around the world?

While that might sound like a fanciful idea, science has already shown that it is a very real possibility. Deep in the ocean live countless organisms that survive in conditions we would struggle to withstand. Extremely low temperatures, high pressure, almost complete darkness and scarce resources make life down there highly challenging.

To survive, these organisms have developed remarkable adaptations, including the production of bioactive compounds. As beneficial as these compounds are for the organisms that produce them, they are useful to us too.

They can help us fight ailments.

And this got me thinking about India. If marine organisms from around the world have already given us compounds that can be turned into medicines, what could be waiting in India's own waters?

India already has a long history of studying the potential uses of its marine species. More recently, the country has announced the creation of its first Deep Sea Marine Microbial Repository. This will hold microbial species from India's deep oceans, providing researchers with a valuable resource for studying these organisms and the compounds they produce.

So what exactly can marine biodiversity offer us? We already have some fascinating examples.

One of them is Ziconotide, a powerful painkiller derived from the venom of the cone snail (Conus magus). The toxin itself helps the snail paralyse its fast-moving prey, but researchers were able to use one of its active components to develop a powerful painkiller that continues to be used today.

Another example is Eribulin (Halaven), a synthetic analogue of halichondrin B, a compound originally isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria okadai. Eribulin is used to treat certain breast cancers and liposarcoma.

Marine microorganisms have also produced promising compounds. Marizomib, for example, is derived from salinosporamide A, a compound produced by the marine bacterium Salinispora tropica. It has been investigated as a potential treatment for cancers including glioblastoma.

Researchers are also investigating compounds that could target cancer cells while minimising damage to healthy tissue. If successful, such approaches could open up new possibilities in cancer treatment.

But this is where I started wondering about the Deep Ocean Mission itself.

When we talk about India's exploration of the deep ocean, much of the attention seems to revolve around the minerals hidden beneath the seabed. Rare earth elements and other critical minerals are undoubtedly important, especially for a developing economy like India.

But why should we only look at what we can find beneath the ocean floor? What about the life that exists there?

I am not arguing that minerals are unimportant. They absolutely matter. But biotechnology deserves just as much attention. India's deep oceans contain an enormous amount of biological diversity, and we are only beginning to understand what it could offer.

After all, both minerals and medicines are vital to our society. One can power our nation while the other can save it.

Of course, finding a promising compound is only the beginning. Turning it into a medicine requires extensive laboratory and toxicity testing, followed by years of clinical trials before it can reach the market. Many compounds may never make it that far.

Even then, the research is not necessarily wasted. Studying these compounds can deepen our understanding of biology, inspire new technologies and open entirely new areas of scientific research.

That is why exploring the biology of the deep ocean matters. Scientific breakthroughs are rarely predictable. A compound that fails as a drug today may become the foundation of tomorrow's diagnostic tool, biotechnology platform or therapeutic discovery.

As India continues to explore the depths of the ocean, I hope we can look beyond just the minerals. There is so much potential in the lifeforms waiting for us to learn more about them.

Who knows? Perhaps the next medical breakthrough is already waiting patiently in the darkness, until we choose to look for it. 

 

 

SOURCES:

https://forumias.com/blog/indias-deep-ocean-mission-dom-explained-pointwise/ 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/niot-to-set-up-indias-1st-deep-sea-marine-microbial-repository/articleshow/125192284.cms 

https://books.rsc.org/books/edited-volume/2380/chapter-abstract/8742370/Marine-based-Drug-Candidates-Cutting-edge?redirectedFrom=fulltext 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459151/ 

https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ocean-fact/medicinesfromsea/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iamsangramsahoo_news-feed-india-sets-up-its-first-deep-sea-activity-7397159082358423553-CJiC 

https://theprint.in/india/indias-first-deep-sea-marine-microbial-research-facility-coming-up-in-andhras-nellore/2800504/

https://www.cmlre.gov.in/research-programs/deep-ocean-mission-dom 

https://www.genengnews.com/topics/bioprocessing/drugs-from-the-deep/ 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4652633/#sec6

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/eribulin-baxter 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557680/ 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/21448-trabectedin-injection

 

 

 
By Rishika Devdas Pai
Rishika Devdas Pai is a second-year BTech Biotechnology student with a keen interest in healthcare research. She is passionate about research and science communication, and enjoy writing about biotechnology, healthcare, biodiversity, and the ways in which scientific discoveries shape society. She believes, science communication should not be limited to scientists and professionals. Science is a part of everyone's life, and everyone should be able to understand the scientific developments shaping our world. Email ID: rishikapai38335@gmail.com
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Title: Nature's Deepest Pharmacy: Why India's Deep Ocean Mission Should Look Beyond Minerals



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