In a breakthrough clinical trial undertaken by Australian biotechnology company Marinova, a unique seaweed extract has been shown to relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
HOBART, Australia, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the effects of fucoidan, a naturally occurring compound found in brown seaweed, on men with BPH (prostate enlargement).
BPH is a common health issue for men across the globe. Worldwide estimates place prevalence at 50-60% of men in their 60s, increasing to 90% of men in their 80s. While it is typically not life-threatening, urinary symptoms – including difficulty passing urine, a weak stream and an increase in the frequency of urination – often result in a significant reduction in quality-of-life.
Speaking of the rationale behind the study, lead researcher Dr Barbara Wimmer said, "To date, very few natural compounds have been clinically studied and shown to support prostate health effectively. The documented bioactivities of fucoidan led us to embark on this groundbreaking trial."
In the 90-day study overseen by clinicians, 88 men aged between 45 and 80 years with moderate BPH received either a daily fucoidan supplement or a placebo.
Key findings
Compared to the placebo, participants taking the high purity fucoidan supplement showed:
- Clinically significant improvements in overall BPH symptoms
- A more than nine-fold improvement in voiding symptoms (encompassing the symptoms of emptying, intermittency, weak stream and straining)
- A two-fold improvement in storage symptoms (encompassing the symptoms of frequency, urgency and nocturia)
- A significant improvement in quality-of-life due to urinary symptoms
Watch the clinical trial overview and learn more about the findings.
The study utilised the widely recognised International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) to assess changes in BPH symptoms.
Dr Wimmer explained, "Importantly, the trial results were clinically significant and the fucoidan was shown to be safe throughout the study period. We expect these findings will result in the commercialisation of high purity fucoidan to help relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia."
The study was published in the journal Research and Reports in Urology.
About Marinova
Marinova is an Australian biotechnology company specialising in the research, development and manufacture of high purity fucoidans for inclusion in nutritional, medical device, skincare and pharmaceutical applications.
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Seaweed extract shown to relieve prostate symptoms
SINGAPORE, HONG KONG and LONDON, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Osome, the AI company management platform trusted by more than 50,000 tech founders and solopreneurs globally, is strengthening its support for the next wave of AI companies choosing Singapore as their regional base.
Singapore's appeal continues to grow as leading AI companies establish a stronger presence. OpenAI has committed S$300 million (US$234 million) to the country's AI ecosystem, while Cognition has established its APAC headquarters there. Anthropic and Tencent are also increasing their presence in Singapore.
Budget 2026 reinforces this momentum with a National AI Impact Programme, a new Kampong AI hub at one-north, and a 400% tax deduction on qualifying AI investments. Foreign companies can access these incentives by incorporating a Private Limited Company, which allows 100% foreign ownership and startup tax rates as low as 10% under the Startup Tax Exemption.
As more AI-native startups choose Singapore to build lean, global businesses, Osome helps founders navigate the process. Operating across Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, and the UAE, it enables founders to incorporate a company as fast as 7 days while managing back-office operations, including accounting, bookkeeping, and compliance.
Building on that support, Osome recently launched its Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, turning founders' preferred AI assistants into a business command center. Through Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini, founders can securely retrieve transactions, shareholder records, financial reports, and other company data from a single AI interface.
AI-native & tech founders are already building with Osome. UpNComer's founder, Karan Dasgupta, incorporated his Singapore company within days of switching to Osome, saving "easily 20 hours" every month. Dubai-based Aesty and Hong Kong's Angelflow have reported similar gains, cutting bookkeeping from around a week of work to just two hours a month.
Eugenio Ferrante, CEO of Osome, said: "A few years ago, building a global company required a 500-person team and a massive regional office. Today, a three-person AI startup can operate globally from Singapore with a laptop. The biggest threat isn't competition, but administrative drag. With our new MCP server, you can manage your company's finance and compliance via your AI assistant, leaving you free to focus on building and serving customers."
About Osome
Osome is an AI company-management platform combining human expertise with automation for incorporation, accounting and tax compliance. Since 2017, it has served 50,000+ startups in Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK and the UAE. Learn more at osome.com.
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Osome Eyes the Next Wave of AI Companies Choosing Singapore
