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Welcome from Paul Garrott - CEO
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Greetings to all our customers and those interested in the activities of Marinova Pty Ltd and our range of Maritech® fucoidan compounds. I apologise for the delay since our last newsletter; whilst I am not one for excuses, please be assured that pace of progress at Marinova in recent times has been nothing less than frenetic. Since our last communication we have commenced new clinical trials, won awards for our novel marine biotechnologies, launched new products and established strategic alliances with leading companies in both the nutritional and pharmaceutical sectors. We have also just completed a major expansion of our manufacturing facility and – in doing so – have successfully reduced our carbon footprint.
Included in this newsletter is an introduction to our new Business Development Manager, Kevin Krail, as well as an overview of our current clinical trials. This edition also details recent findings on the potential of fucoidan to assist in therapeutic settings including neurological degeneration. We conclude by profiling the latest addition to the Marinova portfolio of fucoidan products.
I hope you enjoy the newsletter and please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or comments.
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Fucoidan in the Headlines
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Research and clinical trials into the therapeutic benefits of fucoidan continue around the globe at great pace. We have summarized below three recent publications that are of particular significance and warrant your attention:
• Cui; Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology 2010; 37: pg 422-428
This trial shows that fucoidan provides protection against neurological degeneration including the inhibition of microglial activation and the subsequent death of neurones. The paper defines the biochemical pathways by which the fucoidan acts and points towards the potential for fucoidan as a therapy for conditions such as dementia. The ability of fucoidan to limit neurological degeneration in an animal model of Parkinsons disease was illustrated in an earlier paper by the same group.
• Araya; Antiviral Therapy 2011; 16 : pg 89-99
This clinical trial was conducted on people with a chronic viral infection and showed that fucoidan ingestion can reduce viral load. The trial also confirmed that high dosages of fucoidan are well-tolerated. These results confirm earlier findings which demonstrated the profound anti-viral activity of Maritech® fucoidan.
• Rhee; Archives of Pharmacal Research 2011; Vol 34, pg 645-651
This trial confirms the ability of fucoidan to protect immune stem cells from gamma radiation. The study also showed that fucoidan was effective in protecting mice from radiation damage as well as increasing survival rates.
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Marinova has some exciting news to report in the area of new clinical trials. Reflecting our commitment to developing novel fucoidan compounds with proven therapeutic efficacy, we have just commenced two new clinical trials. These two studies will investigate the potential of Maritech® fucoidan in the following clinical settings:
• Osteoarthritis and Inflammation
This is a large multi-site trial, directly commissioned by Marinova, to assess the ability of Maritech® fucoidan to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis. The trial is double randomised, placebo controlled and - in addition to pain score testing - serum samples will be tested for several key markers of inflammation. This study is being conducted at Southern Cross University (Australia) and results are expected in the second quarter of 2012. The trial has been designed to consolidate earlier clinical evidence that showed that Maritech® fucoidan reduced the symptoms of osteoarthritis by up to 52%.
• Integrative Oncology
At two centres in Australia, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer will take Maritech® fucoidan. The levels of chemotherapy drug in serum will be measured to assess the effects of fucoidan, including any interactions with the chemotherapy drug. Indicators of pain and improvements in quality of life will also be assessed. This study is being conducted in conjunction with the University of Tasmania and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2013.
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Around the Globe and in the News
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• The 28 March issue of TIME magazine featured a cover story about “10 Ideas that will change the World for the better”. On the list and with a full story was the idea: “How Stem Cells Are Changing The Way We Think About Disease”.
This article gave the background to stem cells, stem cell research and the impact this will have on human health into the future. It identified Stem Cells as “biological wonders that are transforming the way we treat disease as well as how we think about unhealthy states and even the way we approach ageing”.
Marinova has already shown that oral ingestion of its fucoidan increases the number of circulating haemopoietic stem cells (CD34+) and also the amount of sticky receptors (CXCR4) that may ultimately assist in the lodgement of those cells. Marinova is continuing its investigations into the ability of fucoidan to mobilize adult stem cells and a further clinical study in this area will commence in early 2012. This therapeutic potential of fucoidan is only now coming to light and with it comes increasing attention from nutritional and pharmaceutical companies alike.
• Global media has given extensive coverage to the disasters that struck Japan. The Nation (Asia) newspaper (27 May) reported; “Greenpeace: Marine Life off Japan is Radioactive”.
The article describes the efforts being made by the environmental group, Greenpeace, to monitor contamination in the coastal waters in proximity to Fukushima in North Eastern Japan. Greenpeace reported radiation levels in some seaweed species that exceeded the official limits by more than 50 times.
It is important to note that Marinova does not source any macro algae from Asia or any other coastal waters vulnerable to contamination. All Maritech® fucoidan extracts produced by Marinova are extracted from certified organic seaweeds that are hand harvested in the pristine ocean waters of Tasmania, Patagonia and Nova Scotia. Never before has the Marinova promise of “Pure Source – Pure Science” rung so true.
• In May this year, an article about Marinova and the increasing market for fucoidan appeared on the NUTRA-ingredients USA.com information newsletter under the title, “Marinova reports ‘exceptional’ growth for fucoidan in US, Asia”; http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/content/view/371074.
The article highlights the increasing uptake of fucoidan in western markets and the extent to which the rapidly growing body of clinical evidence is driving this uptake. This article also discusses fucoidan as an immune modulating agent as well as its potential to supplant glucosamine as the market-leading anti-inflammatory agent.
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New Business Development Manager
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Kevin Krail joined us in April this year to look after our sales, marketing and business development functions. Educated in the USA with a BSc in Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration, Kevin was also a pilot in the U.S. Air Force.
Kevin has been in Australia for quite some time and comes to Marinova with great experience in developing new markets for novel nutritional products, dietary supplements and functional foods. This experience has carried over into international markets, primarily Asia. Kevin has held senior roles with leading corporations including P&G, Monsanto for NutraSweet® and Equal®, GNC and Atkins for the high protein weight-loss food products and with Ocean Nutrition and their MEG-3® Omega-3 ingredients.
In addition to visiting Marinova customers around the world, in the last 3 months alone Kevin has attended trade shows in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia and the US.
If you would like to arrange a meeting with Kevin during his next visit to your part of the world, please feel free to email Kevin directly (kevin.krail@marinova.com.au).
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The Marinova Science Prize is an annual award established to encourage female secondary students to pursue a career in a science-related field. To be awarded each year until 2015, the prize is bestowed upon the best final year science student at The Fahan School in Sandy Bay, Tasmania. The recipient of the 2011 award is Miss Lili Davies who has now embarked upon a degree in medicine at the University of Tasmania. Marinova is thrilled to have been able to provide Lili with a bursary to support her university studies and again congratulates her on her academic achievements.
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MariVet® for Animal Health
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In a world first, Marinova has just launched its novel range of MariVet® fucoidan products - unique nutritional formulations developed specifically for inclusion in animal health applications. The MariVet® formulations are all certified organic and have been scientifically formulated to address many of the key health conditions that are becoming increasingly prevalent in mature companion animals.
The constituents in MariVet® provide a potent combination of fucoidan, mannitol, vitamins, minerals and marine polyphenols to support the animal’s immune system and to assist in alleviating joint pain and stiffness. MariVet® is currently being trialled at a number of veterinary clinics in Australia at the recommended daily dose of 10mg per kg bodyweight for the pet. If you would like further information on the MariVet® range of fucoidan products, please contact us at info@marinova.com.au
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