(via Thenewswire.ca)
Ottawa, ON / TheNewswire / March 22, 2016 - Avivagen Inc. (TSXV: VIV, OTC Pink: CHEXF), a life sciences company commercializing products to replace the antibiotics used in livestock feeds, announces results of a trial of OxC-beta(TM) Livestock ("OxC-beta") as a feed additive for swine run by COFCO Nutrition and Health Research Institute Co., Ltd. (COFCO NHRI) of Beijing, China.
The trial evaluated OxC-beta's effect on growth efficiency and health of pigs raised under local conditions during the post-weaning "starter" period. The trial contained three arms, a negative control receiving no supplements, a positive control group given two antibiotics commonly used in Chinese and global production, and a group supplemented with OxC-beta. Results of each arm were recorded via measurement of commonly-recognized health and commercial measures.
OxC-beta enhanced growth in the "starter" pigs in this trial, a result consistent with previously-reported trials in swine and broiler poultry. This trial therefore adds to the evidence supporting the use of OxC-beta as an alternative to in-feed antibiotic regimens. In markets such as China, the United States and Canada, the use of antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention remains routine despite mounting concerns about the practice. Pressure to reduce the use of drugs in livestock feeds is driving interest in non-antibiotic alternatives to maintain health and promote growth, such as OxC-beta.
Dr. Hongyu Zhang, Swine R&D Specialist at COFCO NHRI and its executive responsible for the trial provided comment about its findings, "COFCO tested the OxC-beta(TM) Livestock in a large scale pig farm and the result is positive."
Dr. James Nickerson, Avivagen's Director of Product Validation provided further observations, "We thank COFCO NHRI for conducting this piglet trial and look forward to OxC-beta(TM) Livestock becoming commercially available to Chinese swine and poultry producers. We're pleased to have results from China supporting those from trials in Canada, the UK, Spain, Korea and Vietnam. It is noteworthy that our non-antibiotic OxC-beta(TM) Livestock can provide an effective alternative to the use of multiple antibiotics in livestock feeds. We welcome continuing collaborations in China, where an estimated 152 million metric tons of swine and poultry feed is used each year."
Trial results can be summarized as follows: 1) The study used 144 piglets across its three arms, with this sample size and high variability of piglet starting weights limiting the statistical power of its results. 2) The antibiotic control group received colistin sulfate and virginiamycin. 3) Piglets receiving OxC-beta for the four weeks of the trial had growth rates that were intermediate between the antibiotic and untreated control groups. 4) OxC-beta also reduced the incidence of diarrhea relative to the negative control.
About COFCO
COFCO NHRI is an affiliate of COFCO Group (COFCO), a firm owned by the government of China. COFCO appears on the Forbes Fortune 500 list of companies and is the largest food manufacturer, processor and trader in China. COFCO NHRI is COFCO'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.
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 is developing scientifically-proven products for replacing antibiotics in livestock feeds and to benefit human and animal health. Its target markets include enhancing productivity and health in livestock, companion animal quality-of-life, and maintaining optimal health in humans.
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's Technology
Avivagen's proprietary and patented technology derives from its discovery that carotenoid oxidation produces oxygen copolymer products that have beneficial immunological properties. Avivagen's commercial-stage application of its inventions is fully oxidized beta-carotene ("OxBC"), OxC-beta(TM) Technology ("OxC-beta"). Avivagen has discovered that OxC-beta can help an animal's own systems to maintain and enhance health by supporting immune function and calming excess inflammation. Avivagen is developing OxC-beta to replace the antibiotics used for disease prevention and growth promotion in livestock feeds, to enhance quality of life of companion animals and to help maintain optimal health in humans. Avivagen's commercial products are OxC-beta(TM) Livestock (Kingdom of Thailand), Vivamune(TM) Vital Health3 Chews (U.S.) and Oximunol(TM) Chewable Tablets (U.S.).
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, COFCO Group or their views, the nature or relevance of the trial or its results, whether trial results will support product registration or enhance commercial adoption, corporate goals or management's opinions, 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
Copyright (C) 2016 Avivagen Inc.
OxC-beta(TM), Vivamune(TM) and Oximunol(TM) are trademarks of Avivagen Inc.
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