OPTI Optibiotix Health Plc

OptiBiotix Health plc

("OptiBiotix" or the "Company" or "the Group")

SlimBiome study update

OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM: OPTI), a life sciences business developing compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and skincare, announces further positive study results.

The Company has completed a fourth human study on SlimBiome®, which followed recommended industry guidelines and was designed to investigate the acute impact of a single dose of SlimBiome® in the presence of 50g sugar (12 teaspoons) on 20 overweight volunteers on their glycaemic response, hunger, and cravings. Feelings of hunger, fullness, desire to eat, and amount of food desired were assessed at 0, 75 and 150min using the visual analogue scale, a validated questionnaire used in nutrition research to assess appetite and food intake.

The researchers at the Brunel University of London reported results showing significant impact on multiple parameters important to appetite and hunger regulation including: - 

·      A statistically significant reduction (26.85%) in hunger (p=0.007) with the intake of SlimBiome®

·      Participants were approximately seven times less hungry when taking SlimBiome® compared to sugar

·      A statistically significant increase (46.9%) in fullness compared to baseline (p=0.009)

·      Participants were approximately two times fuller when taking SlimBiome® compared to sugar

No safety, compliance, or tolerance issues were reported by volunteers. The results of this study are aligned with the Company's earlier study on the acute impact of SlimBiome® in healthy weight volunteers and provide further evidence of the ability of a single dose of SlimBiome® to moderate the impact of the ingestion of a large amount of sugar on appetite related parameters and support fullness. Researchers at the University of Nottingham report that in stomach simulation laboratory experiments, SlimBiome resulted in a six-fold increase in viscosity when taken with sugar and in a 9.6-fold increase in viscosity when taken with a meal replacement which is related with the ability of SlimBiome to support the feeling of fullness and reduce hunger.

The results are consistent with consumer feedback and customer product reviews who report feeling less hungry leading to reduced snacking and lower food intake leading to an average weight loss of 1.2kg per week. 

These findings show SlimBiome® can have a role as a functional ingredient by itself as in SlimBiome Medical®, in meal replacements as in GoFigure®, or as part of a healthy snack in controlling hunger and desire to eat as part of a calorie controlled diet.

Stephen O'Hara, CEO of OptiBiotix Health plc commented: "We are delighted that this additional study of SlimBiome® has further cemented its role as a functional ingredient either standalone or as part of a calorie controlled diet aimed at weight loss.

"Moreover, we note the recent positive trading update from ProBiotix Health. As the largest shareholder of ProBiotix Health, we are pleased to see their strong sales figures and balance sheet. In our interim results released in September, we also reported a significantly increased order book and solid sales performance for the first half of the year, and the strong strategic and commercial progress we achieved in this period has continued in the second half to date.

"We are confident that our strategy will deliver an improved sales performance for the rest of this year, and will continue in 2025, and look forward to demonstrating the long-term growth potential of the Group."

About OptiBiotix - www.optibiotix.com

OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM: OPTI), which was formed in March 2012, brings science to the development of compounds which modify the human microbiome - the collective genome of the microbes in the body - in order to prevent and manage human disease and promote wellness.

OptiBiotix has an extensive R&D programme working with leading academics in the development of microbial strains, compounds, and formulations which are used as active ingredients and supplements. More than twenty international food and healthcare supplement companies have signed agreements with OptiBiotix to incorporate their human microbiome modulators into a wide range of food products and drinks.

OptiBiotix is also developing its own range of consumer supplements and health products. The Company's current areas of focus include obesity, cardiovascular health, and diabetes.