OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 30, 2015 / Avivagen Inc. (TSXV: VIV, OTC Pink: CHEXF), a life sciences company that develops and delivers products that support and enhance the health of livestock, pets and people, announces the publication of an opinion-editorial (Op-Ed) in The Hill Times, Canada’s politics and government newsweekly.
The Op-Ed is entitled “Canada Risks Falling Behind as the World Demands Antibiotic-Free Meat” and appears in this week’s edition of The Hill Times, dated March 31, 2015. The article provides the views of Avivagen’s CEO, Cameron Groome, about the recent commitments of McDonald’s (U.S.) and Costco to phase out the use of antibiotics in the production of many of their meat and dairy products. It goes on to contrast those developments with livestock antibiotic usage in Canada, where the local affiliate of McDonald’s announced it will not be following the lead of its U.S. parent and the Quebec restaurant chain St Hubert stated that it has tried to move to antibiotic free chicken for two decades, but been unable to do so due to Canadian regulations.
The article expresses Mr. Groome’s concern that Canadian agriculture will fall behind its international competitors as the world demands meat produced without the routine use of antibiotics. He asks the question, “To whom will we export when our trading partners embrace antibiotic-free agriculture?” and opines that Canada needs to embrace the coming changes and encourage the development, registration and adoption of non-antibiotic alternatives.
Speaking from Beijing, China, amid a multi-nation Asian business development trip, Mr. Groome provided the following comment “We thank The Hill Times for publishing our perspectives on this important matter. Avivagen is passionate about Canadian agriculture and we regret that local producers may only gain access to our OxC-beta product much later than those throughout Asia.” He went on to note “While we’re advised there seems to be no straightforward path to register a product like ours in Canada, we’re hopeful the farm and laboratory results we continue to generate will form the basis for constructive regulatory engagement later this year.”
The article is available online at: http://www.hilltimes.com/opinion-piece/2015/03/30/canada-risks-falling-behind-as-world-demands-antibiotic-free-meat/41608
The Hill Times is Canada’s politics and government newsweekly, an independently-owned newspaper that has been published since 1989. The Hill Times characterizes is focus as being to break exclusive stories, blaze trails and to be an influential must-read for the savvy political and government insider. Its readers are said to include the top decision-makers in the country, to whom it provides perspectives about political news and policy matters. Further information about The Hill Times can be obtained from its website, www.hilltimes.com.
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. The 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, energy, mobility, joint function, and health of skin, coat and gut. 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 protocols developed by Avivagen or producers. In multiple 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 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 previously distributed by Bayer Healthcare LLC in the United States and Avivagen is now working to identify a new partner through which to distribute this product 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 application covering World Trade Organization countries will be pursued and that further information will be made available when that 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 the technologies described in this news release, including their importance to animal or human health, their novelty, safety, efficacy or affordability, or views about the actions of restaurant chains, Canadian agriculture or its regulation, the timing of product approvals in various nations, the nature or timing of engagement with any regulatory authority or characterizations of The Hill Times, 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 livestock 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
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Copyright (C) 2015 Avivagen
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SOURCE: Avivagen Inc.
ReleaseID: 427351
