Wednesday, 11 February 2015 07:31 AM
OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2015 / Avivagen Inc. (TSXV: VIV), a wellness company developing and delivering products that support and enhance the health and quality of life for animals and the people who care for them, provides a summary of the final results of the swine trial that was run by the National Institute of Animal Sciences for Vietnam.
The trial tested the efficacy of OxC-beta(TM) Livestock in maintaining and enhancing the health and growth of pigs across their full post-wean growth cycle under typical Asian farm conditions. This testing of OxC-beta(TM) Livestock included five study arms: three feeding-levels of OxC-beta(TM) Livestock, a negative control and a commercial level of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs).
The response to the addition of OxC-beta(TM) Livestock pre-mix in the diet was recorded via measurement of a series of health and commercial measures, including average daily weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, incidence of diarrhea, mortality and final body weights. Results were measured during three post-weaning intervals: Starter (day 0-28), Grower (day 29-84), Finisher (day 85-140) and, by extension, across the full growth period (day 0-140).
OxC-beta(TM) Livestock at each rate of inclusion (2, 4 or 8 parts-per-million or "ppm") matched or outperformed the AGP group for the referenced criteria over each growth period. Statistical significance was achieved for multiple key measurements, with the sample size being 100 pigs per group (for a study total of 500). Notable observations from the study include the following:
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- Feed Conversion Efficiency (FCR) improved by over 7% at all stages (at >=4 ppm)
- Average Daily Gain (ADG) increased by over 20% at all Starter phase doses
- Diarrhea rates reduced to below the AGP group at all doses and trial stages
- Final Body Weights greater than those of the AGP and negative control groups.
- Improvement in other parameters that may support the filing of new patent claims.
Full details of the trial and its results will be provided in a submission for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Professor La Van Kinh, Deputy General Director of the National Institute of Animal Sciences for Vietnam led the trial and stated "We are pleased to have had the opportunity to test OxC-beta(TM) Livestock. The results of this trial indicate that it could become an important alternative to the use of antibiotics for optimizing the growth of swine. We look forward to preparing a manuscript concerning this trial for peer review and publication in a recognized journal."
Cameron Groome, CEO and President of Avivagen also commented "As with a prior Canadian trial, we believe these results demonstrate that OxC-beta(TM) Livestock is a valuable new tool for swine and swine feed producers. As stakeholders move to restrict the use of antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention, there is great need for in-feed alternatives."
Cameron also discussed next steps in the development of OxC-beta(TM) Livestock for swine "We are now moving ahead with trials aiming to confirm such results in the commercial operations of major livestock producers in multiple Asian countries. It is intended that positive results of such confirmatory trials will lead to the adoption of OxC-beta(TM) Livestock by those parties."
About Avivagen Inc.
Avivagen Inc. is a publicly-listed life sciences company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol "VIV" and on OTC Pink as "CHEXF." The Company's goal is to develop and deliver scientifically-proven solutions that benefit companion and production animals by employing natural mechanisms for maintaining good health. Target markets include Livestock Productivity and Pet Wellness.
Avivagen is based in partnership facilities of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) - in Ottawa, Ontario and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. For more information, visit www.avivagen.com.
About OxC-beta(TM) fully oxidized beta-carotene ("OxC-beta")
Avivagen's proprietary and patent-protected technology is based on its discoveries concerning carotenoid antioxidants. The novel natural compounds discovered by Avivagen support the body's own systems to maintain and enhance health, by supporting immune function and calming excess inflammation. Avivagen's commercial-stage application of its technology is fully-oxidized beta-carotene. Fully oxidized beta-carotene compounds occur naturally as carotenoid oxidation products in vegetation, but in minute amounts. They have been developed to support companion animal health and for use in the global food animal market.
Research results indicate OxC-beta supports innate immune function and reduces late-stage inflammation, which can help maintain good health. In pets, OxC-beta supports overall vitality and energy, mobility and joint function, and skin, coat and gut health. Results observed in food animals have included healthier growth, more efficient utilization of feed and decreased morbidity. In food animals, it is intended that use of OxC-beta avoids the feeding of antibiotics. Avivagen's commercial products are OxC-beta(TM) Livestock (Kingdom of Thailand), Vivamune(TM) Vital Health3 Chews (United States) and Oximunol(TM) Chewable Tablets (United States).
About OxC-beta(TM) Livestock
OxC-beta(TM) Livestock is available as a 10% pre-mix sold in 1.0 or 5.0 Kg quantities for parts-per-million addition to animal feeds, in accordance with Avivagen or producer-developed protocols. In past studies, OxC-beta(TM) Livestock has been shown to support health or growth in species such as chicken, pigs, cattle and fish. OxC-beta(TM) Livestock is currently available for commercial sale in the Kingdom of Thailand.
About Vivamune(TM) Vital Health3 Chews - For dogs and cats
Vivamune(TM) Vital Health3 Chews, containing Avivagen's proprietary active ingredients, are scientifically-formulated chews for dogs and cats. Vivamune(TM) Vital Health3 Chews work with a pet's own immune system to help it maintain overall health and well-being. They are sold in re-sealable packages of 30 chews and are currently available in the United States by ordering on-line at www.vivamunehealth.com.
About Oximunol(TM) Chewable Tablets - For dogs
Oximunol(TM) Chewable Tablets are scientifically-formulated chewable tablets that contain Avivagen's proprietary, patented active ingredient OxC-beta(TM). OxC-beta(TM) has been shown to stimulate innate cellular immunity and may thereby help to maintain overall health and well-being. Oximunol(TM) Chewable Tablets are distributed by Bayer Healthcare LLC and are available through veterinarians for dogs of all ages in the United States.
Permanent Non-Surgical Sterilization of Female Mammals
Avivagen has optioned worldwide exclusive rights to a technology for the permanent and non-surgical sterilization of female mammals. Proof-of-concept work is ongoing to demonstrate whether the technology appears to be safe and effective. It is expected that a patent covering World Trade Organization countries will be pursued and further information will be disclosed when a patent application is published or as otherwise deemed prudent or required.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon the current expectations of management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties associated with the business of Avivagen Inc. and the environment in which the business operates. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking, including those identified by the expressions "aim", "anticipate", "appear", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "if", "intend", "goal", "hope", "likely", "may", "plan", "possibly", "potentially", "seem", "should", "whether", "will", "would" and similar expressions. Statements about uses of the technologies described in this news release, including their importance to animal or human health, their novelty, safety, efficacy or affordability, whether trial conditions were representative of typical commercial conditions, the relevance of trial parameters measured, the publication of any trial results, publication of the results of the clinical trial or patenting intentions, the initiation of any additional trials, and the views of the researcher or management, are all forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Such Avivagen risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: its ability to continue as a going concern; the results of ongoing livestock trials may not be positive or sufficiently positive; even if the results of livestock trials are positive, there is no guarantee that its products will be commercially successful or that requisite regulatory approvals will be obtained; the timing and results of livestock trials may be delayed or may not be completed at all; and intellectual property rights may prove inadequate to protect its inventions. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Avivagen assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information:
Avivagen Inc.
Cameron Groome, CEO & President
100 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0R6
Head Office Phone: 613-949-8164
Website: www.avivagen.com
SOURCE: Avivagen Inc.