OptiBiotix Health plc
("OptiBiotix" or the "Company")
Contract signed with Nizo Food Research
OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM:OPTI), a life sciences business developing compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes, announces that it has signed an agreement with Nizo Food Research BV ("Nizo"), the contract food research organisation based in the Netherlands.
OptiBiotix is contracting Nizo to undertake pre-clinical claims support for three proprietary cholesterol lowering Lactobacillus strains that OptiBiotix has developed over the past two years. These strains have shown an ability to reduce cholesterol by between 72% and 81% in laboratory studies.
OptiBiotix has contracted Nizo to assess each strain's manufacturability, gastrointestinal robustness and activity against bile salts, to determine the best strain(s) to enter human studies of its first product, a capsular food supplement, scheduled for 2015. The work carried out by Nizo has a dual purpose of identifying the best strain for this first product, but will also characterise the three strains in more detail. This reduces the cost, timescale, and development risk for future products such as cholesterol lowering yoghurts, fruit juices, vegetable juices and cereal bars.
Nizo, which is one of the most advanced, independent contract research companies in the world, works with small corporate food and ingredient companies to develop and produce innovative products for the food and drink industry. Nizo has the largest food-grade pilot plant in Europe and more than 60 years' experience and expertise in product manufacturing. For more information visit: www.nizo.com
Stephen O'Hara, CEO of OptiBiotix, commented: "Pre-clinical claims support is an important milestone in determining which of our three cholesterol reducing Lactobacillus strains is best suited for our first product, and is most likely to lead to a successful outcome in human studies. We expect this work to be completed by the end of 2014 so we can commence human studies in early 2015. This is consistent with our core strategy of creating products with a solid science base validated by human studies allowing us to build a successful and sustainable business for our customers and shareholders. At OptiBiotix we believe that better science equals better health and we strive to ensure this becomes a reality."
OptiBiotix Health plc |
www.optibiotix.com |
Stephen O'Hara, Chief Executive |
Contact via Walbrook below |
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Cairn Financial Advisers LLP |
Tel: 020 7148 7900 |
Liam Murray / Avi Robinson |
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Peterhouse Corporate Finance Ltd |
Tel: 020 7469 0936 |
Lucy Williams / Duncan Vasey |
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Walbrook PR Ltd |
Tel: 020 7933 8780 or [email protected] |
Mike Wort |
Mob: 07900 608 002 |
Anna Dunphy |
Mob: 07876 741 001 |
About OptiBiotix - www.optibiotix.com
OptiBiotix was formed in March 2012 to develop compounds which modify the human microbiome - the collective genome of the microbes in the body - to prevent and manage human disease.
The aim of OptiBiotix is to discover and develop microbial strains, compounds and formulations, which modulate the human microbiome and can be used as food ingredients and supplements or active compounds for the prevention and management of human metabolic diseases, examples of which include obesity, cholesterol and lipid distribution and diabetes.
OptiBiotix has established a pipeline of microbiome modulators that can impact on lipid and cholesterol management, energy harvest and appetite suppression. The development pipeline is fuelled by its proprietary OptiScreen® and OptiBiotic® platform technologies designed to identify metabolic pathways and compounds that impact on human physiology and bring potential health benefits. These platforms are applicable across a wider range of other human diseases.
