SAN DIEGO, June 28, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- San Diego-based Sirenas Marine Discovery announces today that it has been named one of the San Diego Venture Group's Cool Companies for 2013.

"This is an important milestone for Sirenas, as it validates the company's approach of utilizing complex marine chemistry to inspire new classes of therapeutic leads in cancer, inflammation and infectious diseases," said Eduardo Esquenazi, Ph.D., CEO of Sirenas Marine Discovery. "We have been heavily influenced and inspired by the San Diego-based scientific and entrepreneurial community, so it's gratifying to be recognized by the San Diego Venture Group."

Sirenas Marine Discovery is a privately held company founded on the concept that the ancient, highly complex and competitive ecosystems in the oceans have evolved a trove of nuanced, potent and privileged chemistry that can be the ideal raw material for truly new classes of live-saving drugs. The company is dedicated to the discovery, chemical tailoring and early stage development of marine bioactive metabolites and looks to become a provider of high-quality preclinical leads to larger biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Currently, it is cataloguing and screening an information rich marine compound library and has two potential first in-class programs in HIV and Oncology.

Co-founder, Phil Baran notes, "Sirenas's next-generation isolation technology, combined with our first-class chemistry know-how is an inspiring combination that we believe will lead to the development of new medicines."

The company aims to bridge the gap between private enterprise and academia, combining its chemistry expertise and resources with collaborative and flexible business models with both institutions and industry partners.

San Diego Venture Group is a non-profit business association with a mission to support and promote the venture capital and start-up company eco-system in the San Diego region. Its 800 members include venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, experienced executives, and professionals who support them.