Health Values of Mushrooms Containing Compound L-Ergothioneine Discussed on CNN.com
L-Ergothioneine is a Proprietary Nutraceutical Product Manufactured by Oxis International Inc.
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--
Oxis International Inc. (OTCBB:OXIS), a biopharmaceutical company focused on commercializing predictive biomarkers, clinical assays and nutraceutical and therapeutic products, announced today that health articles on CNN.com described that mushrooms contain overlooked disease-fighting chemicals such as L-Ergothioneine (ERGO). To quote WWW.CNN.COM/2007/HEALTH, "Laboratory reports and animal studies show that compounds in mushrooms may do everything from bolster immune function to suppress breast and prostate cancers to decrease tumor size. And now, Penn State researchers find that mushrooms, from the humble button to the giant Portobello, harbor large amounts of an antioxidant called L-ergothioneine. The scientific buzz is that fungi, for the moment, are the only foods that contain this compound."
ERGO, an essential nutrient and potent antioxidant, can also be obtained from Oxis International Inc (OXIS). The OXIS synthetic manufacturing process for ERGO is protected by United States and foreign patents, claiming the only known method of synthesizing this potent antioxidant in commercial quantities.
OXIS announced on October 24, 2007, the first commercial sale of ERGO to Minitube of America. In a recent joint research project with Minitube of America (MINITUBE), located in Madison, WI, and Golden Gourmet Mushrooms (GGM), San Marcos, CA, ERGO was shown to exert a significant protective effect on sperm cells obtained from horses and boars and significantly increased sperm cell viability. These positive findings will be explored through subsequent joint, equine, porcine, bovine, and canine clinical fertility research projects.
"The value of ERGO as a potent antioxidant/anti-inflammatory nutritional supplement is generating excitement in the clinical and scientific community," stated Marvin S. Hausman, M.D., CEO, Oxis International, Inc. "ERGO cannot be synthesized by humans and must be obtained from dietary sources or from a synthetic product produced by OXIS. It is the intent of our company to focus on making ERGO a flagship sales and marketing product for our company."
Dr. Hausman, CEO of OXIS, will be discussing these findings at the upcoming AAEP 53rd annual convention, Orlando, Florida, Dec. 1-5, 2007.
About OXIS and BioCheck:
Oxis International, Inc. develops technologies and products to research, diagnose, treat and prevent diseases of oxidative stress associated with damage from free radical and reactive oxygen species and the related increased inflammation that accompanies oxidative stress. OXIS presently holds the rights to 4 therapeutic classes of compounds in the treatment of oxidative stress, and has focused commercialization programs in clinical cardiovascular markers, including MPO (myeloperoxidase) and GPx (glutathione peroxidase), as well as the potent antioxidant, Ergothioneine, that is planned to be introduced as an over-the-counter nutraceutical supplement. OXIS' customers include leading pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Glaxo Smith Kline and Genzyme and universities such as Baylor College of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Virginia School of Technology, strategic business partners such as Minitube of America and Minitube Germany, distributors and government laboratories. OXIS has acquired a 51% interest in BioCheck, with the option to purchase the remaining 49%.
BioCheck is a provider of high-quality enzyme immunoassay research services and products, and a leading provider of immunoassay kits for cardiac and tumor biomarkers, infectious diseases, thyroid function, steroids, and fertility hormones. BioCheck operates a 15,000 square-foot, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certified cGMP, and ISO device-manufacturing facility in Foster City, California.
More information about OXIS, BioCheck and their products, services as well as current SEC filings may be obtained by visiting http://www.oxisresearch.com and http://www.biocheckinc.com.
The statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations, objectives, anticipations, plans, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties indicated in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is important to note that actual outcomes could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Contact Information: Jennifer Asaro, Oxis International Inc., 650-212-2568.
Source: Oxis International, Inc.
Released November 15, 2007