LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Life science company OptiBiotix Health has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Shandong Longlive Biotechnology, it announced on Monday, for the distribution of Longlive's unique xylooligosaccharide (XOS) prebiotic into the human nutrition markets in Europe and Africa.
The AIM-traded firm said the resulting product would be branded 'OptiXOS'.

It described XOS as a prebiotic fibre with "unique characteristics and benefits" compared to other prebiotic fibres commercially available in Europe.

One gram of XOS is reportedly sufficient to have a "marked effect" on the growth of healthy, favourable gut microbes such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.

OptiBiotix said its superior stability at high temperatures and low pH, combined with the small effective dose, gave it "wide applicability" within food and beverage applications, and would extend its reach to supplement applications requiring pills, tablets and capsules.

XOS is stable in the gastrointestinal environment, maximising its effectiveness when it reaches the gut.

The company said XOS also has a "complementary effect" on the growth and propagation of probiotics such as lactobacillus plantarum and lactobacillus rhamnosus.

That, it explained, creates the potential for probiotic companies to boost the health benefits of their existing products and create "real differentiation" in the market.

It said such application had been researched by OptiBiotix as part of its joint development with DSM, and was covered by an "extensive" patent portfolio.

Longlive was successful in obtaining key regulatory approvals for XOS in the United States and Canada, and in 2018 it obtained EFSA 'Novel Food' approval, opening up the European market.

"XOS is an important addition to OptiBiotix's technology portfolio," said René Kamminga, chief executive officer of operating subsidiary OptiBiotix Limited.

"It is a building block that will increase our importance in microbiome modulation and act as leverage for our more advanced science based prebiotic solutions in the food and beverage and supplement industry in Europe and Africa.

"The agreement with Longlive is another step for OptiBiotix on its path to in-licence or acquire unique technologies to broaden its product portfolio and reinforce our role as leaders in the microbiome field."

At 1400 BST, shares in OptiBiotix Health were up 2.19% at 17.5p.

Reporting by Josh White at Sharecast.com.

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