TIDMPXS
RNS Number : 3259S
Provexis PLC
20 December 2016
20 December 2016
Provexis plc
Fruitflow(R) and Blood Pressure - second stage update
Collaboration with University of Oslo
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 pleased to
announce an update to its collaboration agreement with the
University of Oslo undertaking further research into the
relationship between Fruitflow(R) and blood pressure
regulation.
In November 2014 the Company signed a two stage collaboration
agreement with the University of Oslo seeking to undertake further
research into the relationship between Fruitflow(R) and blood
pressure regulation. Recent work undertaken by the University has
shown that Fruitflow(R) has a potential new bioactivity, leading to
blood pressure lowering effects which would be of relevance to a
large number of consumers and patients with a wide range of
cardiovascular conditions.
The first stage of the collaboration work, completed in 2015,
was focussed on developing the science and the key results from
this stage were very encouraging, with strong evidence from the
laboratory based work that a standard 150mg dose of Fruitflow(R) in
powder format has the potential to give a clinically relevant
reduction in systolic blood pressure.
The Company and the University have now completed the second
stage of the collaboration work which saw the parties conduct a
small clinical trial in Oslo by way of a proof of principle study.
The study examined the acute effects of different amounts of
Fruitflow(R) in powder format on parameters relating to blood
pressure, such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean
arterial pressure, pulse pressure and heart rate. These blood
pressure related parameters were monitored over a 24-hour period
using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Platelet function was
also measured. The trial subjects, who were healthy with no
underlying cardiovascular disease or other conditions likely to
affect blood pressure, received both placebo and Fruitflow(R)
supplements in a blinded crossover design.
Results from the pilot study indicated that a 150mg dose of
Fruitflow(R) in powder format significantly lowered the average
24-hour systolic blood pressure compared to placebo. When the
monitoring time was split into waking and sleeping periods, both
systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower
after 150mg Fruitflow(R) treatment than after placebo treatment
during the waking period; systolic pressure was also significantly
lower during the sleeping period. Platelet response to ADP agonist
was significantly reduced 24 hours after consumption of
Fruitflow(R). The supplements were given in a single dose at the
start of the 24-hour monitoring period; further work is likely to
be required to understand the optimal dosage pattern.
Raised blood pressure is estimated to cause more than 7 million
premature deaths throughout the world each year, and 4.5% of the
disease burden. Treating raised blood pressure by way of achieving
systolic blood pressure < 140 and diastolic blood pressure <
80 has been associated with a 35-40% reduction in the risk of
stroke and at least a 16% reduction in the risk of heart attack
(WHO 2007). These pilot study results therefore show that
Fruitflow(R) may have clinically relevant effects in blood pressure
control.
Provexis signed its collaboration agreement with the University
of Oslo in November 2014, alongside which it also signed a related
option agreement with Inven2 AS ('Inven2'), the technology transfer
office at the University of Oslo ('the University') which is
responsible for commercialising the University's research.
The Company has provided primary funding for the collaboration
work and the associated patent filings on a tightly managed budget,
with the results from the collaboration being jointly owned by the
Company and the University. The option agreement between the
Company and Inven2 gives the Company an exclusive opportunity to
license the University's existing background intellectual property
and any new joint intellectual property developed as part of the
collaboration.
The Company expects that these encouraging pilot study results
will be of relevance to a large number of consumers and patients,
with further commercial interest expected from existing and
potential future brand owner trade customers. The Company will seek
to maximise the commercial opportunities arising from this very
positive development for Fruitflow(R) and the Provexis
business.
The University of Oslo's research team was led by Professor Asim
Duttaroy, Group Leader of Chronic Disease at the Faculty of
Medicine, who was the original inventor of Fruitflow(R). Provexis'
work under the collaboration was led by Dr Niamh O'Kennedy, a
research chemist specialising in the field of natural products
chemistry who played a key role in the development of Fruitflow(R),
and the health claim for Fruitflow(R) which was adopted by the
European Food Safety Authority ('EFSA').
Dawson Buck, Chairman of Provexis, commented:
"We are delighted to announce the results from the second stage
of our collaboration work with the University of Oslo, 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.
The results further demonstrate that Fruitflow(R) has the
potential to play an import role across all major global markets in
the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
The Company expects that these encouraging blood pressure
results will have a positive effect on current and future
commercial negotiations for Fruitflow, and the Company will seek to
maximise the commercial opportunities arising from this important
development for Fruitflow and the Provexis business."
This announcement contains inside information.
- 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
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.
In June 2016 the Company launched a high quality dietary
supplement product containing Fruitflow(R) and Omega-3 which is
being sold initially 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 on 29 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 with the intention
of producing two further videos: a video for Fruitflow(R) targeting
prospective trade customers, and a video for Fruitflow(R) + Omega-3
capsules targeting prospective consumers. The video for consumers
can be seen here www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3HCSdyupEY&t=48s
Video content recorded at the event and subsequently will be
used to promote Fruitflow(R) and the Company's Fruitflow(R) +
Omega-3 capsules more widely across key digital and other
mainstream media channels.
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 also being supported by a broader
consumer PR campaign.
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
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December 20, 2016 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)