Strategic Development and Commercial Alliance

RNS Number : 5622P

OptiBiotix Health PLC

09 June 2015

 



9 June 2015

OptiBiotix Health plc

OptiBiotix and Venture Life to enter a Strategic Development and Commercial Alliance

OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM: OPTI), a life sciences business developing compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes announces that it has signed a letter of intent to enter a Strategic Development and Commercial Alliance ("the Alliance") with Venture Life (AIM: VLG), the international consumer products group addressing the self-care needs of the ageing population.

The Alliance brings together OptiBiotix's research and development expertise in developing microbiome modulators to improve health and Venture Life's formulation, manufacturing and international distribution capabilities.  The Alliance will cover the following key activities:

·     The development by Venture Life of products from existing OptiBiotix intellectual property (microbiome actives or ingredients) in the form of registered food supplements or other over-the-counter ("OTC") products;

·     The development by OptiBiotix of new microbiome actives specific to disease areas agreed between the two parties, which would then be developed by Venture Life into products in the form of registered food supplements or other OTC products; and

·     The marketing and commercialisation of the developed products by Venture Life through its network of international distribution partners.

The two parties will enter a definitive legal agreement which sets out the commercial and financial terms of the Alliance.  More information about the specific products will be provided in due course, but it is expected that the first products from the Alliance will be available to be marketed to distribution partners in 2016, subject to achieving timely product registration. 

Stephen O'Hara, Chief Executive Officer of OptiBiotix, said: "We are pleased to announce this Alliance with Venture Life and see a strong rationale for the businesses to work together based on the complementary nature of the infrastructure and the commonality of our target markets.

Recent advances in OptiBiotix's technology platforms have broadened the range of product opportunities. We believe Venture Life's capabilities in formulating, manufacturing and distributing OTC products through its network of international distributors creates potential to bring new products to new markets earlier than anticipated. We are delighted to be working with Venture Life to exploit the potential of OptiBiotix's technology platforms to develop food supplements and OTC products."

Jerry Randall, Chief Executive Officer of Venture Life, said: "OptiBiotix operates in a very exciting and progressive area that has the potential to bring real health benefits. It has exciting product research programmes which we believe can be commercialised successfully through our Venture Life's manufacturing, registration and international distribution capability.

"This is a strongly symbiotic relationship, with complementary expertise and resources that will enable these cutting edge products to be brought to the global market through the pharmacy channel. We are very excited by this development, and look forward to developing this relationship and to harnessing our complementary strengths across a wide spectrum of market leading products."

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For further information please contact:

OptiBiotix Health plc	www.optibiotix.com
Stephen O'Hara, Chief Executive	Contact via Walbrook below
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP	Tel: [phone]
Liam Murray / Avi Robinson
Hybridan LLP (Joint Broker) Claire Louise Noyce	Tel: [phone]
Peterhouse Corporate Finance Ltd (Joint Broker)	Tel: [phone]
Lucy Williams / Duncan Vasey
Walbrook PR Ltd	Tel: [phone] or [e-mail]
Anna Dunphy	Mob: [phone]
Mike Wort	Mob: [phone]

Notes to editors

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.

About Venture Life - www.venture-life.com

 Venture Life is an international consumer self-care company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing products for the ageing population. The Group's product range and pipeline currently include food supplements for lowering cholesterol and maintaining brain function, dermo-cosmetics for addressing the signs of ageing, and medical devices for improving minor aches and pains, dry eyes and itchy skin. The products, which typically are recommended by pharmacists or healthcare practitioners, are available primarily through pharmacies supplied by the Group's international distribution partners.

Through its manufacturing company, Biokosmes, the Group also provides development and manufacturing services to companies in the medical device and cosmetic sectors.

The Group's own branded products are currently sold or partnered in over 40 countries and currently include:

·     food supplements to maintain brain function and memory;

·     dermo-cosmetics for addressing the signs of skin ageing and hair loss, and

·     medical devices for improving conditions such as minor aches and pains, dry eyes and itchy skin.

The Company has a healthy development pipeline including products in areas such as diabetes, cardiovascular health, obesity, cognitive function and skin ageing. Products coming from the pipeline will be expected to have intellectual property protection and be supported by independent clinical evidence of efficacy.

 

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