Ottawa, ON / Accesswire / Mar 17 2014 / - Avivagen Inc. (TSXV:VIV), a wellness company developing and delivering products that support and enhance the health and quality of life of animals and the people who care for them, announces the release and website posting of a CEO update letter. In addition to reading the contents of the CEO update letter below, we encourage you to visit the Avivagen website to learn more about the company, at www.avivagen.com.
Dear Shareholders,
It is my pleasure to provide a further update on the progress of our Company - after one year as CEO.
The key aspects of my previous two updates remain very much in place - that we have a great team, an exciting technology and substantial market opportunities. With those assets, we are making progress towards achieving many corporate goals and building sustained value for our shareholders. This 12 month milestone provides a good time to reflect upon and update you about our progress.
Generally, this past year was defined by glory-free positioning work: Getting our team to the part of the rink where we can take shots on goal and score. But unlike hockey, moving the corporate puck up the ice is not a visible process and management expects no cheers for the task - it's what you pay us to do.
Comparing today with a year ago is revealing: Today, the Company has a stronger balance sheet and has developed three discrete product distribution and marketing channels. We have built multiple customer and distributor relationships intended to enable us to access Asian livestock markets. We also have fostered two market channels for our companion animal products in the United States - directly to consumers on our own and to veterinarians via a major multinational. For the balance of 2014, management's task will be to build on those foundations with the goal of generating an increasing stream of sustained revenues from those potential sources.
Candidly, we have greater confidence where matters are directly under our control and supervision. We are therefore most confident of our success in the international livestock markets - where business development and sales support is led by our executives and close associates. In turn, we believe our highest risk areas to be where we are more reliant on third parties.
As your CEO and a fellow shareholder, I am very optimistic about the balance of 2014. During the rest of this year I hope and expect we will formalize a series of clinical trial and customer relationships. This should include Avivagen-sponsored livestock trials intended to result in approvable product claims and customer-sponsored livestock trials that result in sales. We are also working to develop the sales of our Vivamune and Oximunol companion animal product lines. We will report progress as it is achieved and we foresee a relatively full calendar of milestone disclosures.
Finally, it is not sound business practice to build a company on a single technology - no matter how promising. OxC-beta is no exception to this maxim. Accordingly, we are evaluating veterinary products and technologies that Avivagen can in-license on acceptable terms and that we believe will add shareholder value. Your management hopes to secure at least one such licensing opportunity over the remainder of 2014.
Near and long term, we remain committed to making Avivagen into a pre-eminent creator of products for companion and food animals. We believe that goal can be realised using internal skills for validating product applications, creating marketable product formulations and managing other key commercialization tasks. Your management believes this model is capable of building exceptional value for our shareholders.
I look forward to providing further updates and thank you for being a shareholder of Avivagen, for taking the time to read this update and for your continuing support for our efforts.
Sincerely,
Cameron Groome
CEO & President
Avivagen Inc.
About Avivagen Inc.
Avivagen Inc. is a publicly-listed life sciences company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol "VIV". The Company's goal is to develop and deliver scientifically-proven solutions that can truly benefit companion and production animals by employing natural mechanisms for maintaining good health. Avivagen's targeted markets include Livestock Productivity and Pet Wellness.
The company has sites located in partnership facilities of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) - in Ottawa, Ontario and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. More information can be found at www.avivagen.com.
About 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, particularly by supporting immune function. Avivagen's commercial-stage application of its technology is Fully-Oxidized beta-Carotene (OxC-beta). OxC-beta compounds occur naturally as carotenoid oxidation products in vegetation, but in minute amounts. They have been developed to support the health of companion animals and for use in the global food animal market.
Research and study results indicate OxC-beta supports innate immune function, which can help maintain good health. In pets, OxC-beta supports overall vitality and energy, mobility and joint function, skin, coat and gut. Results observed in food animals have included healthier growth, better utilization of feed and decreased mortality. In food animals, it is intended that use of OxC-beta avoids the feeding of antibiotics.
The commercial products of Avivagen are OxC-beta for livestock, Vivamune(TM) Health Chews and Oximunol(TM) Chewables.
About OxC-beta for Livestock
OxC-beta for 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 producer-developed protocols. In past studies, OxC-beta has been shown to support health and growth in species such as fish, chicken, pigs and cattle. OxC-beta for livestock is currently available for commercial sale in the Kingdom of Thailand.
About Vivamune(TM) Health Chews - For dogs and cats
Vivamune(TM) Health Chews, containing Avivagen's proprietary active ingredients, are scientifically-formulated chews for dogs and cats. Vivamune(TM) Health 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) Chewables - For dogs
Oximunol(TM) Chewables are scientifically-formulated chewable tablets that contain Avivagen's proprietary, patented active ingredient OxC-beta. OxC-beta has been shown to stimulate innate cellular immunity and may thereby help to maintain overall health and well-being. Oximunol(TM) Chewables are distributed by Bayer Healthcare LLC and are available through veterinarians for dogs of all ages in the United States.
Forward Looking Statements
This document includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations, which 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 "will", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", and similar expressions. Statements relating to expectations regarding access to new markets, new or increased revenue streams, Avivagen's ability to secure additional clinical trials and customer relationships and the results of such trials and relationships and Avivagen's intention to identify suitable technology license opportunities are all examples of forward-looking statements. 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. Avivagen's products may not gain market acceptance in new markets, new or expected revenue streams may not materialise in the near term or at all, Avivagen may not be able to secure clinical trials or new customer relationships and the results of such trials and relationships may not be favourable and Avivagen may not be able to identify suitable in-bound technologies to license and/or It may fail to negotiate a license on terms acceptable to Avivagen. Unless required by law, Avivagen Inc. 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.
For more information:
Avivagen Inc.
Cameron Groome
CEO & President
[email protected]
100 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0R6
Head Office Phone: 613-949-8164
Website: www.avivagen.com
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