MIGDAL HA'EMEQ, Israel, July 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enzymotec Ltd. (Nasdaq:ENZY), a developer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative bio-active lipid ingredients, announced today on publication of its clinical study results evaluating the effect of INFAT® usage on crying in healthy infants (link to the journal: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/14/152).
The article manuscript titled, "Reduced crying in term infants fed high beta-palmitate formula: a double-blind randomized clinical trial" was published in the peer-reviewed journal "BMC Pediatrics." The study was conducted by Dr. Ita Litmanovitz from Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.
Enzymotec's 12-week study investigated the effects of feeding infants with a formula containing INFAT®, high sn-2 palmitate fat ingredient, on infants crying. The clinical trial included 83 term infants, 58 formula-fed and 25 breast-fed. The formula fed infants were assigned to either a sn-2 palmitate group receiving formula with INFAT®, or a control group receiving formula using standard vegetable oil blend. Infants' crying was analyzed based on data from parents' detailed diaries at 6 and 12 weeks postnatal age.
"Although crying is a common spontaneous behavior, it can induce parental concern. Our study indicates that formula containing INFAT® affects infant crying patterns. The results of the study indicate significantly lower crying duration, primarily during afternoon and evening hours, in the formula with INFAT® compared to a standard vegetable oil control infant formula," said Dr. Fabiana Bar-Yoseph of Enzymotec infant nutrition R&D.
"We are very pleased with the results of the study, which further demonstrate the positive effects of INFAT® consumption for infants, thereby improving the well-being of formula-fed infants and their parents," said Dr. Ariel Katz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enzymotec Ltd.
INFAT® is sold and marketed by Advanced Lipids, a joint venture of AAK and Enzymotec. It is a clinically-proven sn-2 palmitate fat ingredient that more closely resembles the structure and properties of human milk fat.
About Enzymotec Ltd.
Enzymotec Ltd. is a leading global supplier of specialty lipid-based products and solutions. The Company develops, manufactures and markets innovative bio- active lipid ingredients, as well as final products, based on sophisticated processes and technologies. For more information, visit www.enzymotec.com.
About Advanced Lipids AB
Advanced Lipids is a joint venture of AAK and Enzymotec that was established for the marketing, sale and distribution of INFAT® to the infant nutrition industry. INFAT® is produced in AAK's state of the art production facilities in Sweden based on proprietary enzymatic technology developed by Enzymotec. For more information, visit www.advancedlipids.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements, which express the current beliefs and expectations of Company management. Such statements involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences the following risks: we depend on third parties to obtain raw materials, in particular krill, necessary for the production of our products; a high proportion of the sales of our INFAT® product is sold to end users by a single company in China; we are subject to a degree of customer concentration and our customers do not enter into long-term purchase commitments with us; we may be required to pay royalties on sales of our krill products in North America and Australia; we have in the past, and may in the future, become subject to litigation regarding intellectual property rights or other matters; our offering of products as ''medical foods'' in the United States may be challenged by regulatory authorities; we rely on our Swedish joint venture partner to manufacture INFAT®, and certain matters related to the joint venture are the subject of disagreement; we are dependent on a single facility that houses the majority of our operations; we may be impacted by delays in manufacturing as we expand our capacity; we may not be able to expand our production or processing capabilities or satisfy growing demand; our gross profits may be adversely affected if we are only able to obtain lower quality krill meal; our ability to obtain krill may be affected by conservation regulation or initiatives; our product development cycle is lengthy and uncertain, and our development or commercialization efforts for our products may be unsuccessful; we are subject to significant and increasing government regulations regarding the sale and marketing of our products; we may not be able to protect our proprietary technology or prevent its unauthorized use by third parties; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2014. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.