Avivagen Summarizes Final Aquaculture Trial Results

OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2015 / Avivagen Inc. (TSX VENTURE:VIV), (PINKSHEETS:CHEXF), a life sciences company that develops and delivers products that support and enhance the health of livestock, pets and people, provides a summary of the final results of the first exploratory evaluation of Avivagen’s proprietary OxC-beta in aquaculture under production conditions; a tilapia trial run by Nam Sai Farms of Thailand.

The trial tested the efficacy of OxC-beta(TM) Livestock (OxC-beta) in maintaining and enhancing the health and growth of tilapia over their full post-stocking growth cycle. Tilapia are commercially-important aquaculture species, typically grown in fresh water ponds in warm climates. This trial included four study arms; two different levels of OxC-beta, a positive (medicated) control group and a negative (non-medicated) control group. There were five 300-fish replicates of each treatment group for a total of 6,000 fish, all of which were fed for 28 weeks.

The trial sought to determine the effects of OxC-beta on the performance of red tilapia raised under typical production conditions. Addition of OxC-beta at two parts-per-million (i.e., 2 ppm) into feed numerically improved multiple outcomes versus the positive and negative control groups. Measures improved were total fish weight, average fish size, total weight gain per fish, average daily weight gain per fish, mean specific growth rate per day, feed conversion efficiency and feed efficiency ratio for the time period. Improvements ranged from +1.1% to +4.5%, but did not achieve statistical significance due to high inter and intra-group results variations.

Avivagen management believes that unstable environmental conditions experienced during the trial led to the referenced variability within and between treatment groups that prevented the results from achieving statistical significance. Notable fluctuations in conditions during the trial included water level, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, pH, total alkalinity and turbidity.

Cameron Groome, CEO and President of Avivagen commented on the results, “Avivagen is determining the full scope and commercial value of OxC-beta’s benefits in a range of species – in scenarios that reflect the challenges encountered under production conditions. We’ve already seen excellent results in poultry, swine and are now extending our studies into aquaculture. While we always hope to see highly significant results, we also understand that farming is impacted by environmental conditions and can sometimes go awry.”

Mr. Groome went on to comment on likely future aquaculture indications, “We’ll look for more stable growing conditions in future company-sponsored aquaculture trials. Additionally, we may direct future work towards the more lucrative commercial fish species: for example, farmed cold water fish, such as Atlantic Salmon and Rainbow Trout, that are sensitive to pathogens, and other higher priced fish. Such work will build upon the successful proof-of-concept study in Rainbow Trout previously conducted at the University of Guelph.”

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 Bayer Healthcare LLC in the United States and Avivagen will now be 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”, “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, management beliefs about the causes or meaning of results and intentions for the initiation of any additional trials, 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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