Reference is made to the stock exchange notice on 6 October 2020. HBC has now received approval from Health Canada for Qualified Health Claims (QHCs) for its Salmon Protein Hydrolysate (ProGo® and CollaGo®). HBC now produces the first non-iron based product to receive regulatory approval to maintain healthy levels of ferritin and hemoglobin and blood components required for oxygen transport thereby helping iron stores and helping with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). As the bioactive peptides in ProGo® and CollaGo® do not contain iron, they are free from the well-known gastrointestinal (GI) side effects seen with iron tablets such as nausea, constipation and a metallic taste.
Approved Recommended Use and Purpose are: “helps maintain healthy levels of ferritin and hemoglobin”, “helps maintain healthy levels of blood components required for oxygen transport”, “provides antioxidants for the maintenance of good health” and “helps promote healthy skin”. Of note, the bioactive peptides do not contain any actual antioxidant compounds (natural or added), rather the bioactive peptides contained in ProGo ® and CollaGo ® upregulate the body’s natural antioxidant genes to deliver this vital health benefit.
Using size exclusion chromatography and MALDI-TOF analysis, HBC has identified the active peptide fraction leading to the increase in ferritin and hemoglobin. This fraction consists of a limited number of structurally related peptides. During H1 2021, having already identified one or more of these peptides that are responsible for the increase in ferritin, HBC plans to produce a new composition of matter claim and commence clinical trial work for the prescription drug claim for the treatment of IDA.
HBC can now sell ProGo® and CollaGo® across the whole of North America following the unique set of Structure Function Claims in the US (with reference to the press release on 13th October). Iron supplementation is a significant market in the US alone with approximately 20% of women, 50% of pregnant women and 3% of men lacking sufficient iron stores in their body. HBC’s bioactive peptides can now offer an alternative solution to this common problem without the need for iron which frequently results in GI irritation. Furthermore, Health Canada’s QHCs are internationally recognized by most Asian countries and therefore will be passported for their use in those countries too.
About HBC’s Bioactive Peptides
The bioactive peptides in ProGo® and CollaGo® are produced via HBC’s patented enzymatic hydrolysis of salmon offcuts (left-over “waste” of the fish after filleting). The resulting peptides and amino acids are more easily handled by the body with a resulting 98% bioavailability (absorption). Beyond nutrition, the peptides have shown significant bioactivity positively impacting numerous body systems including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, gastrointestinal protection, weight loss and aiding the maintenance of healthy blood counts. Ongoing trial work continues to further assess the health benefits of ProGo® and to identify the bioactive peptides driving the beneficial effects.
For further information, please contact:
James Berger, Head of Investor Relations & Strategy of Hofseth BioCare ASA
Phone: +41 79 950 1034
E-mail: jb@hofsethbiocare.no
Dr. Crawford Currie, Medical R&D at Hofseth BioCare ASA
Phone: +44 7968 195497
E-mail: cc@hofsethbiocare.no
About Hofseth BioCare ASA:
HBC is a Norwegian biotech company that develops high-value ingredients and finished products. Ingredients are further developed into discovery and pre-clinical studies in multiple clinics and university research labs in several countries. Lead clinical and pre-clinical candidates are development towards a Gastro-Intestinal (GI) Protective Medical Food, Medical Food to help treat age-related Sarcopenia, and future phase 1 studies on treatment of Anemia and NEC-IBS with Salmon Protein Hydrolysate fractions.
The company is founded on the core values of sustainability, traceability and optimal utilization of natural resources. Through an innovative hydrolysis technology, HBC can preserve the quality of lipids, proteins and calcium from fresh salmon off-cuts. Hofseth BioCare's headquarters are in Ålesund, Norway with branches in Oslo, London, Zürich, Chicago, Mumbai, Palo Alto and Tokyo.
HBC is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange Axess list with ticker "HBC". More information about Hofseth BioCare at hofsethbiocare.com and facebook.com/hofsethbiocare
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act