Provexis PLC
03 November 2005
3 November 2005
PROVEXIS PLC
('Provexis' or the 'Company')
US PATENT AWARDED COVERING FRUITFLOW TECHNOLOGY
Provexis, the nutraceutical company that develops scientifically-proven
functional and medical foods, announces that it has received a patent grant from
the United States Patent Office covering its FruitflowTM technology.
The FruitflowTM technology covered by this patent was discovered at the Rowett
Research Institute in 1998 and has been developed and clinically tested by
Provexis since 2000. FruitflowTM contains a bioactive extract from tomatoes
which has been proven in human trials to inhibit blood platelet aggregation and
thereby reduce the risk of thrombosis, a primary cause of heart attack and
stroke. The technology already has patent protection in Europe, granted in July
2003, and in Australia, granted in August 2004. It is also anticipated that
patent protection will be granted in Japan, Mexico and Canada in the near
future.
Provexis will be launching the FruitflowTM technology in its lead product, the
fruit juice drink SircoTM, in January 2006 in the UK. SircoTM has been approved
by HEART UK and will carry the claim 'helps to maintain a healthy heart and
benefits the circulation'. SircoTM is differentiated from existing cholesterol
management products in that the benefit is associated with blood thinning and is
effective from the first serving. The launch will be targeting a new, emerging
category in the functional food market in the UK: heart-healthy functional
juices. The market for heart-healthy foods worldwide is expected to reach US$4.6
billion of sales by the end of 2005.
Dr Stephen Franklin, Chief Executive Officer of Provexis, said: 'We are
delighted to have been granted the US patent for our FruitflowTM technology. We
now have patent protection in our two largest target markets, the United States
and Europe. This is a critical development in terms of our licensing ambitions
and it means that we can start to make significant in-roads into the US
functional food market, which is expected to reach US$34 billion of sales by
2010.'
For further information please contact:
Provexis plc
Dr Stephen Franklin, CEO 07710 348 774
Bell Pottinger Corporate and Financial
Ann-Marie Wilkinson/Emma Kent 020 7861 3232
Notes to Editors
Provexis develops scientifically proven functional and medical foods. Functional
foods are foods such as Benecol and Flora pro.activ that contain physiologically
active food components and provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition.
Medical foods are administered to patients by a physician for the dietary
management of specific diseases.
In June 2005 the Company joined AIM via a reverse takeover of Nutrinnovator
Holdings plc.
Provexis was formed in December 1999 by the life-science subsidiary of the
venture-management company, ANGLE plc. In January 2000, Provexis entered into a
new technology option agreement with Rowett Research Services Ltd. (RRS), the
commercial subsidiary of the Aberdeen based Rowett Institute, and this option
was exercised in November 2001. Provexis' agreements with RRS have provided it
with the intellectual property rights pertaining to its lead product, Fruitflow.
Provexis continues to have strong links with the Rowett Institute, which
provides the company with R&D facilities, human trials and, potentially, new
technologies.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange