Biophage signs first client for phage therapy
Tuesday January 23, 11:01 am ET
LISTEX(TM) offers a biological solution to control Listeria contaminations in cheese products
MONTREAL, Jan. 23 /CNW Telbec/ - Biophage Pharma Inc. (TSX.V: BUG) is pleased to report that it has concluded the sales of LISTEX(TM) to an important cheese producer in the US. Securing this sale marks the beginning of a business relationship with our first client who intends to develop and use phage therapy as a biological solution to potential Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) contamination in cheese.
On December 4, 2006, Biophage signed an MOU with EBI Food Safety (The Hague, Netherlands) for the sales and distribution of LISTEX(TM) in North America. LISTEX(TM) is the first bacteriophage product to receive FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) recognition for the control of Listeria contaminations in cheese.
Listeria is generally regarded as one of the most dangerous food pathogens. Some properties of Listeria, such as tolerance to low pH values (up to 4.4) low temperatures (3 degree C) and high salt content allow its survival even under adverse environmental conditions, such as those met during usual dairy production and refrigeration. The presence of Listeria in cheese can also be linked to other factors, such as unsatisfactory pasteurization treatments, contamination after heat treatment or in ripening rooms, resistance to sanitizing agents, or the ability to multiply during storage at temperatures considered safe for refrigeration. It's therefore important to achieve a satisfactory level of control and prevention of contamination in dairy plants and LISTEX(TM) is allowing this by being safely added to cheese and milk products.
Dr Rosemonde Mandeville, President and CEO said "We are pleased to announce Biophage's first commercial order for LISTEX(TM) to a major cheese producer. Our objective is to contribute directly to the introduction of this powerful new product to the North American market using a specialized team that will help our clients quickly achieve their objectives. Since the FDA's approval of applying bacteriophages to food products, we have fielded numerous inquiries from producers who understand the commercial potential of this innovative biological solution for the control of bacterial contamination. Biophage is building a sales force in order to meet the increasing commercial interest in this exciting product".
About Biophage Pharma Inc.
Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based products and technologies for the detection and management of bacterial contaminations. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions: (1) The phage therapy division for the management of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields; (2) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors, more particularly a portable PDS(R) Biosensor which is entering in the pre-commercialization stage; (3) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Nanotoxicity and Ecotoxicology, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens.
(www.biophagepharma.net; www.immunotoxlabs.net).
About EBI Food Safety
EBI Food Safety is a privately held Life Sciences company focused on the development and commercialization of natural anti-bacterial products, based on its bacteriophage technology. The company's scientific network includes collaborations with universities and research centers in The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy and now Canada. The company is viewed as product leader in the field of applied bacteriophage technology for food products and was recently honored with the 2006 Technology Innovation Award by Frost & Sullivan. www.ebifoodsafety.com.
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