Avivagen Announces Approval in China, the World’s Largest Commercial Feed Production Market

Rhea-AI Summary

Avivagen Inc. (TSXV:VIV, OTCQB:VIVXF) has secured regulatory approval for its oxidized carotenoid-based feed additive, OxC-beta™, for use in China. This strategic entry allows Avivagen to access the world's largest feed market, critical for the company's growth. The approval resulted from collaboration with COFCO Biotech and follows successful trials across various livestock species. With China leading global feed production and a significant push to reduce antibiotic use, Avivagen’s product positions itself as a viable alternative, potentially transforming their market presence in Asia and beyond.

Positive

• Received regulatory approval for OxC-beta™ in China, the largest feed market globally.
• Collaboration with COFCO Biotech enhances market access and credibility.
• Successful trials across livestock species demonstrate product efficacy and safety.

Negative

• None.

OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Avivagen Inc. (TSXV:VIV, OTCQB:VIVXF) (“Avivagen”), a life sciences corporation focused on developing and commercializing products for livestock, companion animal and human applications that safely enhances feed intake and supports immune function, thereby supporting general health and performance, is pleased to announce that Avivagen’s oxidized carotenoid-based feed additive product has received approval for use in China.

“Core to our success to date has been the strong inroads we’ve made across key Asian feed markets, and we’re thrilled to now have regulatory approval to bring OxC-beta^TM to feed producers and commercial operations across China,” says Kym Anthony, Chief Executive Officer, Avivagen. “Having direct access to the world’s largest feed market at a time of continued growth has the potential to be transformative for Avivagen and help drive greater adoption and growth in Asia and worldwide.

The approval comes as a result of Avivagen working closely with COFCO Biotech, a state-owned multi-billion-dollar company, and follows successful trials across numerous species.

China was ranked as the number one feed-producing country in the world in the 2022 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook, producing 261.4mmt in 2021. The country also experienced the largest increase in feed production by tonnage during the year, as the country’s feed industry continues to consolidate and modernizeⁱ. The country has been a leader in efforts to reduce antibiotic use with livestock nationwide, in an effort to reduce antimicrobial-resistance in the region.

About Avivagen
Avivagen is a life sciences corporation focused on developing and commercializing products for livestock, companion animal and human applications that, by safely supporting immune function, promote general health and performance. It is a public corporation traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol VIV and is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, based in partnership facilities of the National Research Council of Canada. For more information, visit www.avivagen.com. The contents of the website are expressly not incorporated by reference in this press release.

About OxC-beta™ Technology and OxC-beta™ Livestock
Avivagen’s OxC-beta™ technology is derived from Avivagen discoveries about β-carotene and other carotenoids, compounds that give certain fruits and vegetables their bright colours. Through support of immune function the technology provides a non-antibiotic means of promoting health and growth. OxC-beta™ Livestock is a proprietary product shown to be an effective and economic alternative to the antibiotics commonly added to livestock feeds. The product is currently available for sale in the United States, Philippines, Mexico, Taiwan, New Zealand, Thailand, Brazil, Australia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Avivagen’s OxC-beta™ Livestock product is safe, effective and could fulfill the global mandate to remove all in-feed antibiotics as growth promoters. Numerous international livestock trials with poultry and swine using OxC-beta™ Livestock have proven that the product performs as well as, and, sometimes, in some aspects, better than in-feed antibiotics.

Forward Looking Statements
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon the current expectations of management. Forward-looking statements 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 “aim”, “anticipate”, “appear”, “believe”, “consider”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “if”, “intend”, “goal”, “hope”, “likely”, “may”, “plan”, “possibly”, “potentially”, “pursue”, “seem”, “should”, “whether”, “will”, “would” and similar expressions.

Statements set out in this news release relating to the potential impacts on Avivagen from this regulatory approval, future growth and prospects for Avivagen and the possibility for OxC-beta™ Livestock to replace antibiotics in livestock feeds as growth promoters are forward-looking statements. These 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. For instance, Avivagen’s products may not gain market acceptance or regulatory approval in new jurisdictions or for new applications and may not be widely accepted as a replacement for antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock feeds due to many factors, many of which are outside of Avivagen’s control. Readers are referred to the risk factors associated with the business of Avivagen set out in Avivagen’s most recent management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition available at www.SEDAR.com. Except as required by law, Avivagen 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.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Copyright © 2022 Avivagen Inc. OxC-beta™ is a trademark of Avivagen Inc.

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i} https://www.alltech.com/press-release/2022-alltech-agri-food-outlook-reveals-global-feed-production-survey-data-and-trends

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220512005279/en/

Avivagen Inc.

Drew Basek

Director of Investor Relations

100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6 Phone: 416-540-0733

E-mail: d.basek@avivagen.com

Kym Anthony

Chief Executive Officer

100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6 Head Office Phone: 613-949-8164

Website: www.avivagen.com

Source: Avivagen Inc.

FAQ

What recent approval did Avivagen receive for its product OxC-beta™?

Avivagen has received regulatory approval for its OxC-beta™ feed additive for use in China.

How does the approval in China affect Avivagen's market strategy?

The approval allows Avivagen to access the world's largest feed market, potentially driving growth and adoption of its products in Asia.

What is OxC-beta™ and why is it significant for livestock?

OxC-beta™ is an oxidized carotenoid-based feed additive that supports immune function and enhances health, providing an alternative to antibiotics in livestock feeds.

Who did Avivagen collaborate with for market entry in China?

Avivagen worked closely with COFCO Biotech, a major state-owned company, to facilitate the approval and market introduction of OxC-beta™.

How does OxC-beta™ compare to traditional antibiotics in livestock feeds?

OxC-beta™ has shown to be an effective and economic alternative to antibiotics, promoting health and growth without the associated resistance risks.