OptiBiotix Health Regulatory News (OPTI)

OptiBiotix Health plc

("OptiBiotix" or the "Company")

Slimbiome®: Successful completion of pilot launch in GoFigure® shakes and bars Creation of majority owned joint venture agreement with The Healthy Weight Loss Co.  

OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM: OPTI), a life sciences business developing compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and skin care, announces the successful completion of a trial launch for its Slimbiome® ingredients in a range of meal replacement shakes and natural snack bars, and its investment to create a majority owned joint venture with The Healthy Weight Loss Company.

Slimbiome® is OptiBiotix's patented combination of natural ingredients, identified and developed by experts in nutrition and metabolism, which support scientifically substantiated weight loss claims. In independent tests the component ingredients have shown reductions in calorie intake of >20% along with reduced levels of cravings. Working in partnership with The Healthy Weight Loss Company, OptiBiotix carried out a test launch of Slimbiome® in GoFigure® snacks and shakes under a non-exclusive UK license agreement. More information can we found at www.GoFigureDiet.com.

Following the success of the test launch, OptiBiotix has completed an investment to acquire 51% of The Healthy Weight Loss Company, and see this as a platform to incubate new technological solutions and develop wider product applications in weight management.

• GoFigure® was a finalist in "Best New Health & Nutrition" at the 2016 European Natural & Organic Awards and launched on line in June

• Retail listings have been confirmed with first listings on the shelves from August, and wider discussions taking place 

• Early web based sales are out-performing expectations, and the products are receiving positive reviews and most importantly, dieters are finding the real benefits of this diet plan

This incubator model provides an effective way to test early concepts in a large and growing market. The functional foods market is worth £203bn and has potential applications across OptiBiotix's other areas of market focus, including cholesterol and diabetes. Following four weeks of sales, the trial has established that the product, the concept, the supply chain and the delivery and customer service meet consumers' expectations. The reviews from consumers show strong support for the tastes and flavours, and for the efficacy of the product in managing hunger and reducing calorie intake.

The progress with this trial and the associated joint venture investment expands the range of commercial opportunities for Slimbiome®. OptiBioitix continues to progress discussions for dietary supplements and over the counter (OTC) applications, both in the UK and internationally. The launch of SlimBiome® in the GoFigure® range establishes the first application in food products and will support discussions with international partners.

Stephen O'Hara, CEO of OptiBiotix, commented: "We are really pleased at the results from the trial and early consumer feedback which provides market evidence for the efficacy of Slimbiome® in reducing calorie intake and managing weight loss which will help leverage discussions with international partners on use of Slimbiome® as a supplement and food and dairy ingredient. We are delighted to partner with the management of The Healthy Weight Loss Company who have extensive experience in the weight management sector. This partnership creates a platform to take our technology developments to market on an accelerated basis providing early consumer feedback which will use to develop future product opportunities both nationally and on a global basis."

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About OptiBiotix Health plc - www.optibiotix.com

OptiBiotix was formed in March 2012 to develop compounds which modify the human microbiome - the collective genome of the microbes in the body - to prevent and manage human disease.

The aim of OptiBiotix is to discover and develop microbial strains, compounds and formulations, which modulate the human microbiome and can be used as food ingredients and supplements or active compounds for the prevention and management of human metabolic diseases, examples of which include obesity, cholesterol and lipid distribution and diabetes. 

OptiBiotix has established a pipeline of microbiome modulators that can impact on lipid and cholesterol management, energy harvest and appetite suppression. The development pipeline is fuelled by its proprietary OptiScreen® and OptiBiotic® platform technologies designed to identify metabolic pathways and compounds that impact on human physiology and bring potential health benefits. These platforms are applicable across a wider range of other human diseases.