​​Franck Zal​

Organ transplants often fail due to ischemia-reperfusion injury, the cellular damage that occurs when an organ is deprived of oxygen and then suddenly flooded with it during transplantation. Conventional preservation techniques often fall short: storing a liver for more than 12 hours can double the risk of immediate graft failure. In search of a better solution, Zal turned to the lugworm (Arenicola marina), a species that has endured for 450 million years. These marine worms can survive up to six hours without oxygen during low tide thanks to unique, extracellular haemoglobin.

Unlike human haemoglobin, the lugworm’s M101 molecule circulates freely and can transport up to 40 times more oxygen. Zal developed a method to isolate and purify this molecule from worms, creating a universally compatible oxygen carrier that mimics the worm’s natural resilience. M101 works across all blood types and operates independently of immune responses, without triggering vasoconstriction or oxidative stress.

From deep-sea to deep tech 

After years of researching extreme marine environments such as hydrothermal vents and deep-sea ecosystems, Zal shifted his focus closer to shore, where he began studying the lugworm. At the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS, France), he led research into this species and identified its unique haemoglobin. While Zal was convinced of its potential, the scientific community was divided. In 2007, he left academia to found the biotechnology company Hemarina. 

Rather than harvesting wild worms, Hemarina breeds them at a 13-hectare aquaculture farm in Noirmoutier, France. The facility produces up to 30 tonnes of worms annually without depleting wild populations. For Zal, the farm is both an environmental and medical necessity: “Without traceability, you can’t meet medical standards. And you can’t protect the planet either.” 

Among the company’s products, HEMO2life® is CE-marked for kidney preservation and has been successfully used in face, heart, liver and limb transplants. In India, it enabled the world’s first double arm transplant to be fully perfused in just 10 minutes. Beyond organ preservation, the M101 platform is advancing applications in cell cultures, wound healing, dental care and emergency medicine. It is being adapted into oxygenating gels, healing hydrogels and a powdered blood substitute for remote or resource-limited settings. 

Zal’s success is underpinned by a robust intellectual property strategy. With over 60 granted patents or patent applications across 17 families, he ensures that innovation moves beyond the lab: “At the beginning, scientists told me, ‘You should give your knowledge to humanity.’ And I said: Without a patent, your discovery stays on paper. It never reaches the operating room.” 

About the inventor 

Franck Zal holds a PhD in biological sciences, a postgraduate degree in biological oceanology and an Executive MBA. His career was shaped by meeting legendary explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who encouraged him to explore the wonders of the ocean. He has published over 150 scientific articles, delivered over 300 keynote talks and is the author of “Un trésor sous le sable” (A Treasure Under the Seashore), documenting his mission to turn marine biology into a life-saving medical reality.