OptiBiotix Health PLC License agreement for LPLDL® (4420Z)

TIDMOPTI

RNS Number : 4420Z

OptiBiotix Health PLC

20 May 2019

OptiBiotix Health plc

("OptiBiotix" or the "Company")

LP(LDL) (R) license agreement for new application in hypertension

OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM: OPTI), a life sciences business developing compounds to tackle obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, announces that its fully-owned subsidiary ProBiotix Health Ltd. ("ProBiotix"), has signed a license agreement with Nutrilinea Srl. ("Nutrilinea") for the use of LP(LDL) (R) in a food supplement for the reduction of high blood pressure (hypertension). Nutrilinea will cover the cost of all product development, manufacturing and human studies in return for 12 months exclusivity for the European market. ProBiotix has exclusivity for the UK and all other markets outside Europe.

Nutrilinea, based near Milan in northern Italy, is a manufacturer of food supplement formulations containing probiotics, with over 15 years' experience in the development of products for the food and pharmaceutical industries in Europe and the United States. It is one of OptiBiotix's preferred manufacturers, and currently produces the Company's CholBiome(R), CholBiome(R)(x3) and SlimBiome(R) Medical products. Nutrilinea has technology that enables the production of multilayer tablets used in CholBiome(R)(x3) which will also be used for this new product. In an independent human study by the University of Reading, there was a statistically significant reduction in both blood pressure and cholesterol in volunteers taking LP(LDL) (R) compared to a control group (Costabile et al., 2017). The European Cardiovascular Society reported in 2016 that the combination of lowering LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure has the potential to "dramatically reduce" a person's lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease.

Hypertension is a global healthcare issue and is one of the strongest risk factors for almost all cardiovascular diseases. The fact that it does not have obvious symptoms have lead doctors to call hypertension a 'silent killer'. Studies conducted in Europe and in the United States suggest that, under new hypertension guidelines, a large percentage of the adult population may be considered hypertensive: some 14 million people in the UK and over 100 million in the US.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/adults-heart-attacks-strokes-early-death-high-blood-pressure-pills-a8247051.html

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/05/01/more-than-100-million-americans-have-high-blood-pressure-aha-says

Dr Luis Gosalbez, Business Development Director of OptiBiotix, commented: "We are delighted to announce this deal with Nutrilinea who are covering the cost of product development, manufacturing and human studies, for a food supplement to reduce blood pressure. This broadens the use of LP(LDL) (R) beyond cholesterol reduction and creates new market opportunities in the field of cardiovascular health. Hypertension is a global health issue which is on the rise where there are very few active ingredients or supplements proven to lower blood pressure in humans. The development of a hypertension product containing LP(LDL) (R) has the potential to address a large global market of unmet clinical need."

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.

For further information, please contact:

 
 OptiBiotix Health plc                                               www.optibiotix.com 
 Stephen O'Hara, Chief Executive                                   Contact via Walbrook 
                                                                                  below 
 
 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (NOMAD) 
 Liam Murray / Jo Turner                                             Tel: [phone] 
 
   finnCap (Broker) 
 Geoff Nash / Kate Bannatyne (Corporate Finance) 
  Camille Gochez (Corporate Broking)                                 Tel: [phone] 
 
   Walbrook PR Ltd                      Tel: [phone] or [e-mail] 
 Anna Dunphy                                                         Mob: [phone] 
 
 

About OptiBiotix - www.optibiotix.com

OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM: OPTI), which was formed in March 2012, brings science to the development of compounds which modify the human microbiome - the collective genome of the microbes in the body - in order to prevent and manage human disease and promote wellness.

OptiBiotix has an extensive R&D program working with leading academics in the development of microbial strains, compounds, and formulations which are used as active ingredients and supplements. More than twenty international food and healthcare supplement companies have signed agreements with OptiBiotix to incorporate their human microbiome modulators into a wide range of food products and drinks.

OptiBiotix is also developing its own range of consumer supplements and health products. The Company's current areas of focus include obesity, cardiovascular health, and diabetes.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [e-mail] or visit www.rns.com.

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May 20, 2019 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)