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OptiBiotix research validated by deal flow

Published: 07:44 14 Apr 2016 BST

OptiBiotix research validated by deal flow
The company's technology tweaks the gut flora.

Annual results from OptiBiotix Health PLC (LON:OPTI) chart a period of significant progress – with the momentum carrying on into the current financial year.

OptiBiotix's specialism is using the human microbiome, found in the gut and on the skin, to create treatments for time-bomb problems related to obesity.

It now boasts 11 patents protecting its technology (up from five), it has eight strain registrations and seven trademarks.

The science is backed up with clinical evidence as OptiBiotix successfully completed a human study on its cholesterol supplement. It has also carried out a manufacturing assessment.

Commercially, the firm is gaining traction with four agreements signed in 2015.

They are with Nizo, the Dutch food research firm, Venture Life, the developer of age-related products, the Italian probiotics specialist Centro Sperimentale Del Latte and a large unnamed US multinational.

In the current financial year it has inked deals with KSF Acquisition, which owns Slimfast here in the UK, and landed a second contract for its SweetBiotix formulation.

At the same time it has set up a joint venture with the University of Manchester to develop at topical application of its technology called SkinBiotix.

In common with most other companies at this formative stage of development, OptiBiotix made a loss. A tight control on the cost levers meant the shortfall was a comparatively modest £1.28mln for the 12 months ended last November.

Investors are usually more interested in the cash cushion R&D focused firms have. In OptiBiotix’s case it is a fairly plump one with £4mln in the bank.

This follows two share placings for a total of £2.5mln done at 75p and 78p respectively.  The share price at last night’s close was 82p.

Chief executive Stephen O'Hara said: "I am delighted with the strong progress OptiBiotix has made in our first full year of trading on AIM.

“In a short space of time we have built operational capability, progressed our development programmes, built on our IP portfolio, and signed multiple commercial agreements.”

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