AMP.L Regulatory News (AMP)

12 Jul 2007 09:19

Amphion Innovations PLC12 July 2007 Amphion Innovations plc Partner Company, WellGen, Inc. Announces Patent Awarded for WG0401, An Enriched Black-Tea Extract with Inflammation-Fighting Properties -- Patent Marks Major Milestone As WellGen Readies Its First Nutrigenomics-Based Functional Food Ingredient for Commercialization -- July 12, 2007 - Amphion Innovations plc (LSE: AMP), a developer of companies inlife sciences and technology, today announces that one of its Partner Companies,WellGen, Inc., a biotechnology company using nutrigenomics to discover anddevelop food ingredients for wellness products, has received the award of U.S.Patent No.7,238,376, "Black Tea Extract for Prevention of Disease" thatcovers, among other things, its proprietary product, WG0401, an enriched extractfrom black tea which has demonstrated inflammation-fighting properties. The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued the patent on July 3, 2007."Black Tea Extract for Prevention of Disease" covers the uses of WG0401 forarthritis, inflammation and cancer. WellGen will begin marketing WG0401 to the nutritional supplement industry,where products for joint health have grown into a billion-dollar industry.WG0401 offers distinct new benefits to this marketplace due to the depth ofscientific research supporting its performance, the known mechanism of itsaction at the cellular level, and the quick onset of its activity, which wasdemonstrated in recently completed human studies. Amphion's Chief Executive Officer, Richard Morgan said: "WellGen represents anexciting opportunity for Amphion in the functional food and beverage industry,which has grown into an $80 billion business. We have high hopes for WellGen'songoing success in this market as it continues to conduct studies for additionalapplications of its proprietary extract as well as several other products in thepipeline, each in various stages of development. This patent marks a majormilestone as WellGen prepares to bring its first nutrigenomics-based functionalfood to the marketplace and to the consumer." This patent award adds tremendous value to WellGen's marketing efforts forWG0401 as a functional food ingredient aimed at promoting joint health andcomfort, anti-aging and immune-defense support, and for contributing tocardiovascular health. Dr. Kathleen P. Mullinix, Chief Executive Officer of WellGen, stated: "Thispatent is a major milestone for our company and for our industry. Our productaddresses relevant consumer needs and has significant scientific substantiationto support its claims, in addition to being proprietary. The patent is arewarding achievement - but, we believe, only the first in a long line ofsimilar future achievements. Eventually, we hope to become a major presence inthe fast-growing functional foods and nutraceuticals industry." "WellGen is one of the first companies to employ the science of nutrigenomics -the study of how food ingredients affect the expression of genes that influencehuman states of health and wellness. We believe WG0401 is the firstnutrigenomics-developed ingredient to be commercialized for consumerapplication," said Dr. Mullinix. Dr. Mullinix also stated that WellGen has already contracted for the large-scalemanufacture of WG0401, to provide quantities as needed. In addition, theCompany is in the process of finalizing a distribution agreement with CharlesBowman and Company, a leading supplier of nutrition ingredients and finechemicals to the food, feed, pharmaceutical and health industries, which willfacilitate WellGen's entry into the marketplace. www.charlesbowman.com. In May 2007, WellGen moved into new headquarters and operating facilitieslocated in the Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies, at theTechnology Centre of New Jersey, in North Brunswick, NJ. "Our new, larger homewill be an important asset as we make the transition into a major new stage ofour Company's development," Dr. Mullinix concluded. For further information please contact: WellGen, Inc.Patricia Lucas-Schnarre, Marketing: Tel: (732) 565-3890, ext. 4403 Amphion Innovations plcCharlotte Morgan, Marketing: Tel: (212) 210-6224 Financial DynamicsJohn Gilbert, Public Relations: Tel: +44 207 269 7169 About WellGen WellGen, Inc., based in North Brunswick, NJ, is a biotechnology company that isdiscovering and developing products for food, therapeutics, and dietarysupplement markets with a strategic focus on functional foods. WellGen'sproprietary technology platform is a method of screening the effect of food andrelated substances on the expression of genes associated with human healthconditions. The company has developed proprietary substances that help maintainhealth and reduce risk and severity for a variety of diseases. Please visit ourwebsite at www.wellgen.com for more information. About Amphion Innovations plc Amphion Innovations plc is listed on the AIM Exchange in London under the symbolAMP. Amphion's business is the formation, financing, management and developmentof life sciences and technology companies, working in partnership withcorporations, governments, universities and entrepreneurs seeking tocommercialize their intellectual property. Please visit our website atwww.amphionplc.com for more information. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange