Last checked at 3 Nov 2009 07:00
Provexis plc ("Provexis" or the "Company")
Update on European Commission authorisation of health claim wording for Fruitflow®
Provexis, the life-science business that discovers, develops and licenses scientifically-proven functional food, medical food and dietary supplement technologies, is pleased to announce an update on the authorisation process by the European Commission for the use of a health claim for the Company's Fruitflow® anti-thrombotic technology.
The Company announced on 28 May 2009, that Fruitflow® was the first technology to have a health claim approved by the European Food Safety Authority under Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods. As previously announced, the European Commission has since been in an ongoing period of review, as it considers the health claim wording for Fruitflow® which may be used on end consumer products under the Regulation.
The Company has been in regular contact with the European Commission throughout this period and confirms that it has been informed that the process is now in an advanced stage. An announcement will be made to the market as soon as the conclusion of the process has been notified to the Company.
3 November 2009
For further information please contact:
Provexis plc Tel: 01753 752290
Stephen Moon, Chief Executive
Evolution Securities Tel: 0207 071 4300
Sam Plumptre
Bobbie Hilliam
Notes to Editors
About Fruitflow ®
Provexis' development of Fruitflow®, a water-soluble tomato concentrate, is a breakthrough in anti-thrombotic food technology. In human trials, consumption of the Fruitflow® extract has been proven to reduce platelet aggregation in 97% of subjects. The effect takes place within three hours of consumption and lasts for up to eighteen hours, making it ideal for daily dosage in functional foods or dietary supplements. Provexis has developed a syrup format for use in food & beverages and a concentrated powder format for tablets and capsules.
Fruitflow® syrup is GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) by the US FDA and is not regarded as a Novel Food in the EU, clearing it for wide use in foods, beverages and supplements. In May 2009, the Fruitflow® technology was the first to be substantiated by the European Food Safety Authority ("EFSA") under the new Article 13(5) for proprietary and emerging science.
The technology has been granted patents in the EU, US, Australia, Canada and Mexico, with Japan pending. Further patents have been filed for the bioactive components of Fruitflow and for other developmental areas such as deep vein thrombosis and triglyceride lowering.
About Provexis plc
AIM-listed Provexis is focused on the discovery, development and licensing of technologies for the functional food, dietary supplement and medical food sectors.
The company was originally spun out of the Rowett Institute (now part of the University of Aberdeen) in 1999 to commercialise their tomato extract discovery using venture capital funding. Provexis Limited was reversed into Nutrinnovator in 2005 and its major investors are DSM Venturing and Rising Stars Growth Fund (part of Enterprise Ventures).
The company has additional biotechnology developments, including a joint venture with the University of Liverpool to develop an extract of plantain which aids the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, and an early stage technology under option from University of Manchester for the prevention and treatment of peptic ulcers.