TIDMPXS
RNS Number : 2215Y
Provexis PLC
04 December 2017
4 December 2017
Provexis plc
Patent application - Fruitflow(R) protects against adverse
effects of air pollution
Provexis plc ('Provexis' or the 'Company'), the business that
develops, licenses and sells the proprietary, scientifically-proven
Fruitflow(R) heart-health functional food ingredient, is delighted
to announce the filing of a patent application relating to the use
of Fruitflow(R) in protecting against the adverse effects of air
pollution on the body's cardiovascular system.
Recent laboratory work has shown that Fruitflow can reduce the
platelet activation caused by airborne particulate matter, such as
that from diesel emissions, by approximately one third. The
beneficial effects of this reduction can be observed in laboratory
models representing healthy subjects as well as in models
representing subjects with an underlying cardiovascular
problem.
The patent application describes 'a composition comprising a
water soluble tomato extract (Fruitflow(R)) for use in maintaining
cardiovascular health, lessening the risk of developing a
cardiovascular health problem, or reducing the likelihood of
worsening an existing cardiovascular health problem in a subject
who is exposed, or is at risk of exposure, to particulate air
pollution.'
Uses of Fruitflow(R) described in the patent application
include:
-- Maintaining healthy platelet function in the presence of air pollution;
-- Maintaining a healthy blood circulation and blood flow in the presence of air pollution;
-- Reducing the risk of an adverse cardiovascular condition,
such as atherosclerosis or thrombosis, in the presence of
particulate matter air pollution;
-- Reducing the severity of cardiovascular diseases when exposed to particulate matter; and
-- Reducing the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory illness in an air polluted environment.
An international patent application has been filed under the
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system, with the Company seeking to
secure patent protection in all major global territories.
The World Health Organization ('WHO') estimates(1) that:
-- In 2012 around 1 in 9 deaths were attributed to exposure to
air pollution, making it the largest environmental risk factor for
ill health;
-- An estimated 6.5 million deaths were associated in 2012 with
indoor and outdoor air pollution together;
-- 92% of the world's population lives in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits;
-- Nearly 2 out of 3 air-pollution-related deaths occur in the
WHO's South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions;
-- In 2012 72% of outdoor air pollution-related premature deaths
were due to ischaemic heart disease and strokes.
Particulate air pollution is related to both natural events -
volcanic emissions, dust storms, forest fires - and human
activities such as vehicle or machinery emissions. Both types of
event result in the suspension of soot, gases and other matter in
the air as tiny particles. It has been shown that this particulate
matter is able to enter the blood stream and induce cytotoxic and
inflammatory responses, and there is a recognized link between
exposure to diesel emissions and cardiovascular disease.
Particulate matter has been shown to promote arterial thrombosis
and atherosclerosis through increased platelet activation, leading
to accelerated coronary heart disease and strokes which are the
main causes of death from air pollution.
The Company is responsible for filing and maintaining patents
and trade marks for Fruitflow(R) as part of its Alliance Agreement
with DSM, and the Company is pursuing a strategy to strengthen the
breadth and duration of its patent coverage to maximise the
commercial returns that can be achieved from Fruitflow(R).
In December 2013 British and international patent applications
were filed for the use of Fruitflow(R) in mitigating
exercise-induced inflammation and for promoting recovery from
intense exercise, and the resulting patent was granted by the UK
IPO in May 2017. Patents are being sought in Europe, the US, China
and ten other territories, with the patent application now having
entered the national phase, with potential patent protection out to
December 2033.
The Company's patent application for Fruit Extracts, relating to
part of the production process for Fruitflow(R), was granted by the
European Patent Office in January 2017, with the patent application
also now having entered the national phase across larger global
territories, with potential patent protection out to November
2029.
The Company reported in its preliminary results on 7 September
2017 that the Company and DSM had seen an encouraging increase in
brand awareness and customer interest in Fruitflow(R) in recent
months, with the total projected annual sales value of the
prospective sales pipeline for Fruitflow(R) continuing to increase
and standing then at a new all-time high level.
An increasing number of further commercial projects have been
initiated by the Company's commercial partner DSM with prospective
customers, including some prospective customers which are part of
global businesses, with good prospects for these projects to be
launched as consumer products.
(1) World Health Organization -
www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2016/air-pollution-estimates/en/
and www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en
Dawson Buck, Chairman of Provexis, commented:
'We are delighted to announce the filing of this patent
application relating to the use of Fruitflow in protecting against
the adverse effects of air pollution on the body's cardiovascular
system.
Recent laboratory work has shown that Fruitflow can reduce the
platelet activation caused by airborne particulate matter by
approximately one third in healthy subjects and in subjects with an
underlying cardiovascular problem.
The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution is
the largest environmental risk factor for ill health, accounting
globally for around 1 in 9 deaths, and these encouraging laboratory
results suggest that Fruitflow could have a significant role to
play in addressing this global health issue.
The patent filing means that DSM and the Company can use this
research now to assist with discussions with current and potential
customers. The Company expects that this patent application will
have a strongly beneficial effect on the current and future
commercial prospects for Fruitflow worldwide.'
ends-
For further information please contact:
Provexis plc Tel: 07490 391888
Dawson Buck, Chairman enquiries@provexis.com
Ian Ford, Finance Director
Cenkos Securities plc Tel: 020 7397 8900
Bobbie Hilliam / Camilla Hume
Notes for editors
About Provexis plc
AIM-listed Provexis is focused on the development and licensing
of its proprietary, scientifically-proven Fruitflow(R) heart-health
functional food ingredient.
In May 2009, the Company's Fruitflow(R) technology was the first
to be substantiated by the European Food Safety Authority ('EFSA')
under the new Article 13(5) for proprietary and emerging science.
In December 2009 the European Commission authorised the health
claim 'Helps maintain normal platelet aggregation, which
contributes to healthy blood flow', which was the first wording to
be authorised under Article 13(5).
In June 2010 it was announced that the Company had entered into
a long-term Alliance Agreement with DSM Nutritional Products to
commercialise Fruitflow(R), and in June 2015 the Company confirmed
it had agreed significantly enhanced financial terms for its
Alliance Agreement with DSM for Fruitflow(R).
The Company's Alliance partner DSM Nutritional Products has
developed the market actively for the Company's novel, patented
Fruitflow(R) heart-health ingredient in all global markets, with
over 50 regional consumer healthcare brands now having been
launched by direct customers of DSM, and with a number of further
regional brands having been launched through DSM's distributor
channels.
An increasing number of further commercial projects have been
initiated by DSM with prospective customers, including some
prospective customers which are part of global businesses, with
good prospects for these projects to be launched as consumer
products. Interest in the technology exists in all major global
markets.
The Company reported in its preliminary results on 7 September
2017 that the Company and DSM had seen an encouraging increase in
brand awareness and customer interest in Fruitflow(R) in recent
months, with the total projected annual sales value of the
prospective sales pipeline for Fruitflow(R) continuing to increase
and standing then at a new all-time high level.
In June 2016 the Company launched a high quality dietary
supplement product containing Fruitflow(R) and Omega-3 which is
being sold from a separate, dedicated website www.fruitflowplus.com
on a mail order basis.
The Company conducted a Key Opinion Leaders' roundtable event
for Fruitflow(R) in London in September 2016, focussed on raising
awareness of the importance of blood flow in cardiovascular health,
and the effectiveness of dietary antiplatelets. The roundtable was
attended by key scientists from Provexis and DSM, along with a
number of interested health care professionals with close links to
the media. The event was recorded and a video for Fruitflow(R) +
Omega-3 capsules targeting prospective consumers can be seen here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3HCSdyupEY&t=48s
The Company and DSM are keen to secure greater medical advocacy
for Fruitflow(R) and the roundtable event forms part of this
strategy.
The roundtable event is being supported by a broader consumer PR
campaign, and the Company's Fruitflow(R) + Omega-3 dietary
supplement product has featured in a number of recent articles in
the UK national press which can be seen here
www.fruitflowplus.com/fruitflow-in-the-media
The Company has been engaged in a two stage collaboration
agreement with the University of Oslo to undertake further research
into the relationship between Fruitflow(R) and blood pressure
regulation. In December 2016 the Company announced the results from
the second stage of the collaboration, a pilot study which
indicated that a standard dose of Fruitflow(R) in powder format
significantly lowered average 24-hour systolic blood pressure
compared to placebo. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure
were shown to be significantly lower whilst trial subjects were
awake, a clinically relevant reduction in blood pressure which is
expected to be of interest to a large number of consumers and
patients with a wide range of cardiovascular conditions.
In April 2017 the Company announced that it had entered into a
memorandum of understanding with BY-HEALTH Co., Ltd ('BY-HEALTH')
which is intended to result in a research and collaboration
agreement with BY-HEALTH for Fruitflow(R). The Company also
confirmed separately that Provexis and DSM are working with
BY-HEALTH to support the planned launch of some Fruitflow(R) based
products in the Chinese market.
BY-HEALTH is a substantial Chinese listed dietary supplement
business which is currently valued in excess of GBP2bn.
Provexis was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Reading,
Berkshire.
Provexis shares are traded on the AIM market of the London Stock
Exchange under the ticker symbol PXS.
For further information, please visit www.provexis.com
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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