LAVAL, QC, May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc., , "Neptune" is pleased to announce breakthrough clinical results with a combination of Neptune Krill Oil "NKO(TM)" and Statins.
The study, entitled "Evaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the clinical course of hyperlipidemia", was conducted by McGill University and University of Montreal affiliated doctors. The objective of the study was to assess the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL compared to Statins, fish oil and placebo.
Eligible for recruitment were patients with mild to moderate hyperlipidemia who could maintain a healthy diet. Patients were either treatment naive, in other words not currently taking any medication for hyperlipidemia, or on a 10mg daily Statin treatment and for at least 6 months. The following research findings are the result of the subgroup analysis of 65 of the 120 patients who participated in this study. According to the study protocol, these 65 patients were already on a 10mg per day Statin regimen for at least 6 months and continued for the duration of the study.
The results of the present study indicate that after 90 days, the combined treatment of NKO(TM) (1-1.5g/day) and Statins (10mg/day) reduced total cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol) and increased HDL (good cholesterol) significantly more than Statins alone, with a certainty of 95% and a probability of chance findings less than one in one thousand.
The combined NKO(TM)/Statin treatment increased HDL by 51% and decreased LDL by 37% compared to a 13% HDL increase and 29% LDL decrease achieved by Statins alone.
"I am extremely pleased with these results. The study strongly indicates a significant advantage in hyperlipidemia treatment when combining the therapeutic effect of NKO(TM) with Statins over conventional Statin therapy alone" said Dr. Tina Sampalis, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President of R&D and Business Development at Neptune. "These results justify a future multicenter/multinational pivotal study of NKO(TM) versus Statins to further evaluate the effects."
"Current epidemiological studies have shown a strong association between high levels of LDL and low levels of HDL and premature coronary heart disease. According to industry reports 107 million patients suffer from high LDL; however, the number of patients with low HDL exceeds 107 million" concluded Dr. Sampalis.
"According to the American Heart Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the cost of cardiovascular disease and stroke in North America only for 2006 is estimated at $453 billion" said Mr. Henri Harland, President & CEO of Neptune. "It is predicted that Statins will continue to dominate the cardiovascular disease market during the 2006-2012 period. However, the pharmaceutical industry has recognized the importance of an HDL increase in lipid management and is looking to improve the performance of statins with more complete and effective therapies. Neptune's tremendously encouraging preliminary results direct us to aggressively target this market and prove NKO(TM) as a standard in lipid care" concluded Henri Harland.
About Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc.
Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. develops high value added nutritional products from underexploited marine biomasses, such as krill, with its patented extraction process (Neptune OceanExtract(TM)). Using an exclusive process, Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. is well positioned in the $182 billion global nutrition market (Nutrition Business Journal, Oct/Nov 2004) of health and wellness concepts.
Natural biomass extraction is now playing an important role in developing nutrigenomics, the next wave in nutritional research. Through strategic alliances and partnerships, as well as through clinical studies, the Company continues to demonstrate the immense beneficial effects of these products. The Company develops and markets new formulas and new products for specific applications in high growth markets such the nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, biopharmaceutical and nutrigenomics markets.
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NEPTUNE TECHNOLOGIES & BIORESSOURCES INC.CONTACT: Grant Howard / David Gordon, The Howard Group Inc., Toll Free:1-888-221-0915, Info@howardgroupinc.com; Corporate Contact: NeptuneTechnologies & Bioressources Inc.: Henri Harland,henrih@neptunebiotech.com, President & C.E.O.; Serge Comeau,sergec@neptunebiotech.com, Director, Investor Relations, (450) 972-6291