Avivagen Announces Two Appointments to Its Board of Directors, Mr. David Allan and Ms. Vanessa Grant

OTTAWA, ON/ ACCESSWIRE / May 14 2015 / Avivagen Inc. (TSXV:VIV, PINKSHEETS:CHEXF), a life sciences company that develops and delivers products that support and enhance the health of livestock, pets and people, announces the appointment of two new Directors, Mr. David Allan and Ms. Vanessa Grant, and the resignation of two past Directors, Dr. Janusz Daroszewski and Dr. Chandra Panchal.

Mr. David Allan has considerable experience in life sciences, capital markets and corporate governance. He was the founding Chairman, and CEO from 1998 to 2010, of the U.S. and Canadian-listed oncology therapeutics development company YM BioSciences Inc. until its acquisition by Gilead Sciences Inc. for US$ 510 million in 2013, the founding Chairman of AvidBiologics (now Formation Biologics Inc., an antibody-drug conjugate company), the Executive Chairman of Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp. (now Trillium Therapeutics) and Lead Director of DiaMedica Inc. until 2013. He has been a CEO or senior executive of three independent Canadian investment dealers and a Governor of the Toronto Stock Exchange. He has been a member of the Awards Selection Committee of the Canadian Networks of Centers of Excellence and the Canada Foundation for Innovation Multidisciplinary Assessment Committee and was the recipient of the Gold Leaf Award from BIOTECanada for Industry Leadership in 2012.

Ms. Vanessa Grant has substantial expertise in corporate governance, capital markets, life sciences and agriculture. She is currently a business law partner in the Toronto office of the firm of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, with a practice focusing on governance, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and private equity. Vanessa has advised multiple national and international life sciences companies and is currently the Co-Director of York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School part-time LLM in business law (Master of Laws degree), also teaching corporate finance for the program. Gowlings is a leading international law firm, with over 700 legal professionals serving clients in Canada and around the world. In addition to its Toronto office, Gowlings maintains offices in Beijing, London, Moscow, Calgary, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and the Waterloo region. The firm services client legal needs relating to business law, litigation and intellectual property.

Mr. Kym Anthony, Independent Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented on the appointments of Mr. Allan and Ms. Grant, “We believe that Avivagen has many upcoming opportunities for which it will be helpful to add their experience, as well as for fulfilling our governance and reporting obligations. Both appointees have already been of assistance to the Company and we are now pleased to welcome them as Board members. We also thank Dr. Janusz Daroszewski, who remains a highly-valued senior executive of the company and one of its founders, and Dr. Chandra Panchal for their past service on the Board of Directors.”

Mr. David Allan stated, “I’ve long been interested in Avivagen’s important positioning, have a meaningful shareholding and am pleased to be appointed to its Board of Directors. I believe Avivagen’s OxC-beta technology provides multiple business prospects that I may help it realize.”

Ms. Vanessa Grant remarked, “I’m very pleased to be appointed to Avivagen’s Board of Directors and look forward to using my skills to help ensure the success of the Company. I believe Avivagen has exciting opportunities with its products and intend to work hard to assist with realizing that potential.”

The appointments of Mr. Allan and Ms. Grant to the Avivagen board of directors remains subject to TSX Venture Exchange approvals.

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 were distributed by a multinational animal health company in the United States and Avivagen is now working to identify a new partner through which to distribute to veterinarians for dogs of all ages.

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”, “consider”, “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, comments about the appointee or their qualifications, comments about the appointee’s affiliations and comments from the appointee or other Avivagen Directors, 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 or future trials may not be positive or sufficiently positive; even if the results of 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 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.

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