Neptune Product and Distribution Update
LAVAL, QC, May 5 /CNW Telbec/ - Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc.
("Neptune") (NASDAQ.NEPT - TSX.V.NTB) provides an update on business
activities regarding its product portfolio.
Worldwide Sales and Distribution Update
- Neptune expanded its sales and marketing team through the hiring of two
additional marketing and sales executives with longstanding, well-
recognized backgrounds in the nutraceutical and functional food
industries.
- North America: Neptune entered into a new distribution agreement with
Inno-Vite, a Canadian leader in innovative health products focusing on
research-proven ingredients. Inno-Vite launched Neptune Krill Oil
NKO(R) under the brand name Inno-Krill(TM) in health food stores across
Canada. Neptune is preparing further market entrance with additional
distributors in order to strengthen its position in the Canadian
market.
- South Africa: Vital Health Foods, South Africa's leading health food
company, distributes Natrodale NKO(R). Presently, Natrodale is
positioned as one of South Africa's most established vitamin and health
supplement brands.
- Europe: Weifa, a leading pharmaceutical company, launched NKO(R) for
the first time in the Norwegian market in drug stores for women's
health.
Launch at Vitafoods International, May 2009
- Neptune presents novel innovative product opportunities customized for
dietary supplements, functional and medical foods at Vitafoods
International 2009. Vitafoods is Europe's largest event for the
nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and functional food ingredients industry.
- Neptune launches a new pipeline of novel formulations containing its
proprietary marine omega-3 phospholipids enhanced with validated
bioactive ingredients targeted to specific health applications. The
Company is also testing the industry's reception of a new biomass
extract generated from Neptune's research and development program
targeting new vascular and affective health indications.
- Neptune will also be presenting pilot commercial products for
functional food applications including juice, fruit berries, fruit
paste and protein bars.
Intellectual Property and Regulatory Affairs
Neptune is continuously strengthening its competitive advantage and
leverages itself by expanding its portfolio of intellectual property and
regulatory approvals, thereby executing on its strategy to effectively limit
competitors from penetrating word markets.
- Australia: Neptune has received notification that its composition of
matter patent has been issued. The patent protection and the
complementary medicine approval, including the approved compositional
guidelines, effectively preclude competitors from entering the market.
- Europe: Neptune is pursuing a similar competitive strategy of limiting
legal competitive entry through its granted and issued patents combined
with European approval specific to commercialization of Neptune
products.
- Canada: The Natural Health Product Directorate of Health Canada granted
Neptune an 8-digit natural product number (NPN) to be listed on product
labels, which informs consumers that the product has been reviewed by
Health Canada for safety, quality and health claims.
- U.S.: Neptune has received US FDA GRAS ("generally recognized as safe")
notification.
- Middle East: In preparation for market entrance, the Islamic Food and
Nutrition Council of America has certified that NKO(R) is produced
Halal.
About Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc.
Neptune is the pioneer and leader in marine omega-3 phospholipids, which
are the highest quality Omega-3s available in the market, clinically shown to
be effective in cholesterol management, joint health, inflammation and
cognitive function. Neptune Krill Oil NKO(R) represents the first and only
clinically proven omega-3 phospholipids exhibiting unmatched safety, purity
and stability. NKO(R) omega-3 marine phospholipids set a new standard of
omega-3 excellence supported by a strong intellectual property portfolio and
multinational regulatory approvals. Neptune pursues market opportunities in
the nutraceutical markets (dietary supplement, functional food) and
pharmaceutical markets (OTC, medical food, Rx) through its subsidiaries Acasti
Pharma for cardiovascular applications and NeuroBioPharm for neurological
applications.
