Neptune Technologies &
Bioressources Inc. Announces Major Breakthrough in the Omega-3 Market
Neptune Krill Oil (NKO®) Robust Therapeutic & Risk Reduction Health
Claims Approved by Health Canada
Laval,
Québec, CANADA – September 22, 2010 – Neptune Technologies
& Bioressources Inc. (“Neptune”) (NASDAQ.NEPT - TSX.V.NTB) is proud
to announce that after two years of rigorous review of NKO® safety and
clinical research data, the Canadian Minister of Health has approved
exclusively for NKO® therapeutic and risk reduction claims,
corroborating aspects of Neptune’s clinical research and substantiating
NKO® safety and effectiveness on certain prevalent chronic diseases. Health
claims are becoming among the most important drivers influencing the
purchasing of Omega-3 supplements worldwide. With this outstanding
achievement, Neptune reinforces its Leader position as a golden standard
in the krill oil market” said André Godin, CFO.
Substantial
preclinical and clinical evidence reviewed by Health Canada relating to
the safety and effectiveness of NKO® lead to the approval of the
following fundamentally competitive health claims: 1.
Cardiovascular health:
- Helps to reduce the levels of LDL
cholesterol (in conjunction with conventional statin therapy): 2
softgels (1g) per day
- Helps to increase the levels of HDL
cholesterol (in conjunction with conventional statin therapy): 2
softgels (1g) per day
- Helps to reduce the levels of
triglycerides (in conjunction with conventional statin therapy): 4
softgels (2g) per day
2. Inflammation
- Helps
to reduce C-reactive protein levels, a clinical marker of inflammation:
1 softgel (0.5g) per day
- Helps to reduce pain associated with
osteoarthritis: 1 softgel (0.5g) per day
3. Women’s
Health:
- Helps to relieve symptoms of premenstrual
syndrome (PMS): 4 softgels (2g) per day
- Helps to relieve
symptoms of dysmenorrhea: 4 softgels (2g) per day
The
Health Canada health claim review process is considered one of the most
rigorous worldwide, recognized as a model among certain global
regulatory authorities. The review process involves an extensive
assessment of the accuracy, validity and evidence supporting the
proposed clinically proven health claims. “The Food and Drugs Act, which
regulates health claims, requires that the health claims be
scientifically supported and not misleading” said Dr. Wael Massrieh,
Ph.D. Medicine, Director of R & D. “In June 2009 Health Canada
approved health claims for omega-3, among the strongest of which was the
claim that products providing 1g - 3g EPA + DHA, per day (amounting to
3-10g of fish oil per day, or 6-20 softgels) help to reduce serum
triglycerides, compared to 4 NKO® softgels recently approved for the
same indication. Contrary to fish oil, Health Canada approved a stronger
claim for NKO® for cholesterol with a decrease of LDL (bad cholesterol)
and increase of HDL (good cholesterol) using only two softgels per day
as well as an anti-inflammatory claim using only one softgel per day and
a specific claim for premenstrual syndrome (PMS)” he added.
“The
NKO® approved claims are competitive when compared to the already
approved claims for fish oils since not only have they been accepted at
significantly much lower doses, but they also offer more specific health
benefits in cardiovascular, joint and women health” said André Godin,
CFO. “This strategic milestone is expected to have a positive effect on
sales because it fulfills new consumer requirements” he added. A list of
the approved claims can be found on www.MyNKO.com.
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