BLIS reaches agreement for NOVEL Probiotic

BLIS reaches agreement for NOVEL Probiotic

20 October 2008

BLIS Technologies Ltd (NZX: BLT) has announced that it has completed a formal marketing and distribution agreement with global distribution company, Frutarom Ltd, which will see the company’s lead probiotic, BLIS K12 nutraceutical and food ingredient, initially being promoted and managed in North America. BLIS Technologies Ltd is a developer and manufacturer of a range of probiotic products for the prevention of upper airways infection including bacterial sore throats, prevention of tooth and gum disease and including the treatment of chronic bad breath. It is expected that Frutarom will then launch the BLIS K12 ingredient in Europe and Asia in early 2009.

Under the terms of the agreement, Frutarom Ltd has global responsibility for all sales and marketing, warehousing and distribution activities, but it is expected that Frutarom will concentrate on building a base of sales in North America for the remainder of 2008, enabling BLIS Technologies to remain focused on both the expansion of its existing retail product range and further product development efforts with its key development partners. The agreement with Frutarom Ltd is in addition to the existing commercial relationship that BLIS has with Nestle, Switzerland, which provides Nestle the global right to use the BLIS K12 ingredient in their infant formula. The ingredient BLIS K12 will be officially unveiled on the Frutarom stand at the Supply Side West show in Las Vegas, USA on Oct 23rd 2008.

The benefit of BLIS K12 is that it is the world’s only probiotic specifically designed to protect the entire oral cavity including the throat, mouth gums and teeth and under certain circumstances it has even been shown to protect the nasopharynx (which forms part of the nasal cavity) from infection. BLIS K12 is called an advanced probiotic, because unlike other probiotic organisms, the BLIS K12 organism will actively produce targeted antibacterial proteins when it is under threat from potential disease causing bacteria. Because the BLIS K12 probiotic is a living organism it is able to respond to a threat by ramping up the production of these antibacterial proteins. This makes BLIS K12 probiotic a great deal more effective as a natural oral antiseptic agent, than most traditional antiseptic throat lozenges.

Mr Laurent Leduc is the Vice President of the Health Division for Frutarom USA. He said ``This is a significant opportunity for us to expand our business around a product with both an exceptional safety profile and excellent record of clinical validation for its effectiveness in preventing many common infections of the upper airways and oral cavity.’’ The great thing about BLIS K12, Mr Leduc said, ``is that it has no peers in the market. This product is unique and with the patents around it, it will likely remain that way for a long time.’’

BLIS Technologies’ CEO, Dr Richardson said ``Frutarom Ltd is a very proactive company and have already secured orders for BLIS K12, even before the ink was dry. We recognize that Frutarom Ltd is a highly successful, globally focused distributor of branded ingredients in the areas of food, nutrition and human health. They are represented in all the major geographical markets and have been operating since 1933.’’

``We have been approached over the past two years by many companies from around the world, seeking to develop a suitable commercial partnership and the BLIS Technologies even went to the extent of signing a letter of intent with one of them, but in the end, it was not possible to finalise a satisfactory arrangement. We believe however, that in Frutarom Ltd, we have found a business partner with a shared vision. This relationship is very important to us because it represents further expansion of our commercial development for BLIS Technologies and builds on our existing relationships with Nestle Nutrition in Switzerland.’’

BLIS Technologies remains committed to its own retail brand and continues to seek market opportunities around the world. The company is pleased to report that last month it sent its first shipment of retail product into the Irish pharmacy market. The company has confirmed that Irish pharmacy distributor, “Whelehan Group” received its first delivery of BLIS Throatguard, BLIS Fresh Breath Kits and ‘new formula” BLIS BioRestore. Whelehan Group advises that the BLIS product range will be progressively rolled out to Irish pharmacies over the next few months. The Irish pharmacy market is very similar in size and style to that of the New Zealand pharmacy market.

-END-
About Frutarom
Established in 1933, the Frutarom Group is a rapidly growing global flavor and fine ingredients company. Frutarom develops, manufactures and markets an extensive variety of high quality flavors and natural fine ingredients for customers in the food, beverage, flavor, fragrance, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food additive, and cosmetic industries. Frutarom's 20,000 products are sold to more than 10,000 customers in 120 countries around the world. The Frutarom Group has 1,500 employees worldwide and manufacturing facilities in Europe, North America, Israel and Asia.
Frutarom operates through two divisions:
• Flavors Division, which develops, produces and markets flavor compounds and food systems.
• Fine Ingredients Division, which develops, produces and markets natural flavor extracts, functional food ingredients, natural pharmaceutical/nutraceutical extracts, specialty essential oils, citrus products and aroma chemicals.
Frutarom Industries Ltd. is a public company whose stock is listed on the Tel Aviv and London Stock Exchanges. As of January 1, 2003 Frutarom has been included in the Tel Aviv 100 Index.

About BLIS Technologies
BLIS Technologies Limited was formed to commercialise BLIS (bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances); hence the company’s name, BLIS Technologies Ltd. The company acquired the rights to the collection of an extensive range of BLIS producing organisms from the University of Otago in New Zealand, the collection having been gathered by Professor John Tagg over more than 20 years. BLIS Technologies is developing new products for use in the control of undesirable bacterial infections which includes dental caries control, the prevention and treatment of ear and throat infections, bovine mastitis, and skin infections. The company became listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange in July 2001.

ends

© Scoop Media