TIDMPXS
RNS Number : 8721R
Provexis PLC
26 September 2017
27 September 2017
Provexis plc
Study publication - consumption of Fruitflow(R) lowers blood
pressure
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
confirm the publication of an important pilot study for
Fruitflow(R) in the International Journal of Food Sciences and
Nutrition.
The study, titled 'Consumption of Fruitflow(R) lowers blood
pressure in pre-hypertensive males: a randomised, placebo
controlled, double blind, cross-over study' concerns the research
undertaken by the Company and the University of Oslo into the
relationship between Fruitflow(R) and blood pressure regulation,
and it is expected to be a strong opportunity to promote
Fruitflow(R) further across scientific, trade customer and consumer
channels.
The study is available to view on the Company's website at:
www.provexis.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IJFSN-Fruitflow-blood-pressure-study-Sep-17.pdf
The study reflects the outcome of the research work undertaken
by the Company and the University of Oslo, following a
collaboration agreement between the parties which was signed in
2014.
In December 2016 the Company announced that the second stage of
the collaboration work with the University of Oslo had been
completed, which had seen 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 study results will be
of relevance to a large number of consumers and patients, and the
publication of this study in a peer-reviewed scientific journal is
expected to drive further commercial interest from existing and
potential future brand owner trade customers.
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.
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 at a new all-time high level.
The University of Oslo's research team was led by Professor Asim
K 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').
Professor Asim Duttaroy commented:
'The pilot study clearly shows the beneficial effects of
Fruitflow(R) on two important cardiovascular risk factors, high
blood pressure and platelet hyperactivity. From a public health
standpoint, it has been reported that every 1 mmHg reduction in
systolic blood pressure could prevent approximately 10,000 CVD
deaths each year in the USA alone. Thus, Fruitflow(R)
supplementation could be a promising dietary approach to achieve
and maintain healthy blood pressure.'
Dawson Buck, Chairman of Provexis, commented:
'We are delighted to announce the publication of this study,
which shows 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 Company expects that the encouraging blood pressure results
detailed in this study 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.
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 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 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 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, with the first launch envisaged in
the second half of 2017.
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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