(via Thenewswire.ca)
Ottawa, ON / TheNewswire / Oct 30 2015 - Avivagen Inc. (TSXV: VIV, OTC Pink: CHEXF), a life sciences company that develops and delivers products that support and enhance the health of livestock, pets and people, announces an agreement with COFCO Nutrition and Health Research Institute Co., Ltd. (COFCO NHRI) of Beijing, China to conduct a trial of OxC-beta(TM) Livestock (OxC-beta) as a feed additive for swine.
COFCO NHRI is an affiliate of the COFCO Group, a company owned by the government of China. COFCO Group appears on the Forbes Fortune 500 list of companies and is the largest food manufacturer, processor and trader in China. COFCO NHRI is the COFCO Group's R&D center, focusing on the systematic research of nutritional requirements and metabolic mechanisms to better the health and welfare of the Chinese people. It engages in quality, safety and applications research along with technology and product development, with the goal of improving the nutrition and health value of livestock feeds and human foods.
The trial will test the efficacy of OxC-beta to favorably affect production, performance and welfare of healthy young swine. The pigs will be raised in typical local commercial production conditions and OxC-beta will be tested during the post-weaning "starter" period of feeding. The response to the addition of OxC-beta into feed will be recorded via measurement of a series of health and commercial measures. Such measures will include, but not be limited to, final body weight, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratios and tissue/gut morphology.
The trial is entitled "Evaluation of OxC-beta as a Feed Ingredient to Improve Growth Performance and Enhance Health in Weaned Piglets." Its testing of OxC-beta will include 3 study arms: a negative (unmedicated) control group, a positive (antibiotic) control group and a feeding-level of OxC-beta. The trial was designed by Dr. Hongyu Zhang, Swine R&D Specialist at COFCO NHRI and Avivagen executives and consultants. The trial, which will be supervised by COFCO NHRI, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2016 and is intended to provide support for national registrations of OxC-beta for use in swine.
Dr. William Riley, Professor at Jinan University (Guangzhou, China) and consultant to Avivagen, commented about another objective of this new trial, "This swine protocol will help confirm that the positive results previously reported from Canada and Vietnam are equally applicable to China under its typical commercial production conditions."
Cameron Groome, CEO and President of Avivagen provided further perspectives, "We're very pleased about COFCO NHRI's receptivity to working with us on this swine trial, for multiple reasons. First, COFCO is a leading company in the Chinese feed industry and we are happy that it considers OxC-beta to be of interest. Second, China is the largest potential global market for OxC-beta, with over 180 million metric tons of formulated animal feed production. Third, confirmations of efficacy resulting from the planned protocol should further enhance the case for widespread commercial adoption of OxC-beta in swine feed formulations."
About Avivagen Inc.
Avivagen Inc. is a publicly-listed life sciences company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol "VIV" and on OTC Pink as "CHEXF." The Company's goal is to develop and deliver scientifically-proven solutions that benefit companion and production animals by employing natural mechanisms for maintaining good health. Target markets include Livestock Productivity and Pet Wellness.
Avivagen is based in partnership facilities of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) - in Ottawa, Ontario and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. For more information, visit www.avivagen.com.
About Avivagen Technology
Avivagen's proprietary and patent-protected technology is based on its discoveries concerning carotenoid antioxidants. These novel natural compounds help the body's own systems to maintain and enhance health, by supporting immune function and calming excess inflammation. Avivagen's commercial-stage application of its technology is fully-oxidized beta-carotene. Fully oxidized beta-carotene compounds occur naturally as carotenoid oxidation products in vegetation, but in minute amounts. They have been developed to support companion animal health and for use in the global food animal market.
In pets, fully-oxidized beta-carotene supports overall vitality and energy, mobility and joint function, and skin, coat and gut health. Results observed in food animals have included healthier growth, more efficient utilization of feed and decreased morbidity. In food animals, it is intended that its use avoids the feeding of antibiotics. Avivagen's commercial products are OxC-beta(TM) Livestock (Kingdom of Thailand), Vivamune(TM) Vital Health3 Chews (United States) and Oximunol(TM) Chewable Tablets (United States).
About OxC-beta(TM) Livestock
OxC-beta(TM) Livestock is available as a 10% pre-mix sold in 1.0 or 5.0 Kg quantities for parts-per-million addition to animal feeds, in accordance with Avivagen or producer-developed protocols. In past studies, OxC-beta(TM) Livestock has been shown to support health or growth in species such as chicken, pigs, cattle and fish. OxC-beta(TM) Livestock is currently available for commercial sale in the Kingdom of Thailand.
About Vivamune(TM) Vital Health3 Chews - For dogs and cats
Vivamune(TM) Vital Health3 Chews, containing Avivagen's proprietary active ingredients, are scientifically-formulated chews for dogs and cats. Vivamune(TM) Vital Health3 Chews work with a pet's own immune system to help it maintain overall health and well-being. They are sold in re-sealable packages of 30 chews and are currently available in the United States by ordering on-line at www.vivamunehealth.com.
About Oximunol(TM) Chewable Tablets - For dogs
Oximunol(TM) Chewable Tablets are scientifically-formulated chewable tablets that contain Avivagen's proprietary, patented active ingredient, which has been shown to stimulate innate cellular immunity and may thereby help to maintain overall health and well-being. Oximunol(TM) Chewable Tablets were distributed by a multinational animal health company in the United States and Avivagen is now working to identify new partners through which to distribute to veterinarians for dogs of all ages.
Permanent Non-Surgical Sterilization of Female Mammals
Avivagen has optioned worldwide exclusive rights to a technology for the permanent and non-surgical sterilization of female mammals. Proof-of-concept work is ongoing to demonstrate whether the technology appears to be safe and effective. It is expected that a patent covering World Trade Organization countries will be pursued and further information will be disclosed when a patent application is published or as otherwise deemed prudent or required.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon the current expectations of management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties associated with the business of Avivagen Inc. and the environment in which the business operates. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking, including those identified by the expressions "aim", "anticipate", "appear", "believe", "consider", "could", "estimate", "expect", "if", "intend", "goal", "hope", "likely", "may", "plan", "possibly", "potentially", "pursue", "seem", "should", "whether", "will", "would" and similar expressions. Statements about uses of the technologies described in this news release, including their importance to animal or human health, their novelty, safety, efficacy or affordability, about COFCO NHRI or COFCO Group, the nature of the trial conditions, the timing, intentions or relevance of the trial and whether trial results will support product registration or enhance commercial adoption, are all forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Such Avivagen risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: its ability to continue as a going concern; the results of ongoing or future trials may not be positive or sufficiently positive; even if the results of trials are positive, there is no guarantee that its products will be commercially successful or that requisite regulatory approvals will be obtained; the timing and results of trials may be delayed or may not be completed at all; and intellectual property rights may prove inadequate to protect its inventions. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Avivagen assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information:
Avivagen Inc.
Cameron Groome, CEO & President
100 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0R6
Head Office Phone: 613-949-8164
Website: www.avivagen.com
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Copyright (C) 2015 Avivagen Inc.
OxC-betaTM, Vivamune(TM) and Oximunol(TM) are trademarks of Avivagen Inc.
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