Provexis PLC Fruitflow and Blood Pressure - second stage update (3259S)

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:      [phone] 
   Dawson Buck, Chairman                                 [e-mail] 

Ian Ford, Finance Director

   Cenkos Securities plc                                      Tel:      [phone] 

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)