Nereus Pharmaceuticals is a US pharmaceuticals R&D company that was set up in 1999 to explore new candidate substances. Nereus obtains these substances from the oceans, the planet’s largest source of microbial diversity. Based on marine microbiology Nereus is developing medicines for cancer, infectious diseases and inflammations. Two Nereus drugs are at the clinical test phase. A number of other highly promising candidates are expected to reach this stage in 2009.