World Health Organization’s “World Antibiotic Awareness Week” highlights the need for Avivagen’s products

November 15, 2018

OTTAWA, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Avivagen Inc. (TSXV:VIV) (“Avivagen” or “Corporation”), a world leader in natural alternatives to antibiotics with its OxC-beta™ technology, strongly endorses the World Health Organization’s (WHO) initiative to declare “World Antibiotic Awareness Week,” from November 12-18, 2018.

Among the known uses that create antibiotic resistance is the overuse of antibiotics by livestock producers to help the animals grow faster or to help them survive the stress of food production conditions. Under these conditions, bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics and those then colonize the community. Each year in the U.S., at least 2 million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and at least 23,000 people die as a result. Many medical procedures are dependent on the ability to prevent or control infections using antibiotics, including joint replacements, organ transplants, cancer therapy, and treatment of chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis [1].

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant germs are difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat. In most cases, antibiotic-resistant infections require extended hospital stays, additional follow-up doctor visits, and costly and toxic alternatives [1]. This is the reason why the WHO and many other health organizations, countries and companies treat the removal of antibiotics as livestock growth promoters as a pressing global priority.

Since 2006, Avivagen has been at the forefront of the effort to discover and introduce alternatives to help combat this global problem. The Corporation has been propelled by its discovery of a potent, previously-overlooked, naturally-occurring health-promoting compound, which has been translated into the fully-patented OxC-beta™ technology. To date, the Corporation has completed approximately 25 animal trials which have been shown to enhance health in both livestock and companion animals. Avivagen believes that its OxC-beta™ technology is an ideal candidate to complement the reduction or elimination of antibiotic use from livestock production.

Avivagen applauds the continued effort by the World Health Organization to bring this global health issue to light, and is determined to be a leading player in helping to address this important issue.

About Avivagen
Avivagen is a life sciences corporation focused on developing and commercializing products for livestock, companion animal and human applications that, by safely supporting immune function, promote general health and performance. It is a public corporation traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol VIV and is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, based in partnership facilities of the National Research Council of Canada and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. For more information, visit www.avivagen.com. The contents of the website are expressly not incorporated by reference in this press release.

About OxC-beta™ Technology and OxC-beta™ Livestock
Avivagen’s OxC-beta™ technology is derived from Avivagen discoveries about carotenoids, compounds that give certain fruits and vegetables their bright colours, and is a non-antibiotic means of maintaining optimal health and growth. OxC-beta™ Livestock is a proprietary product shown to be effective and economic in replacing the antibiotics commonly added to livestock feeds. OxC-beta™ Livestock is currently registered and available for sale in the Philippines, Taiwan, New Zealand and Thailand. Avivagen’s OxC-beta™ Livestock product is safe, effective and could fulfill the global mandate to remove all in-feed antibiotics as growth promoters. Numerous international livestock trials with poultry and swine using OxC-beta™ Livestock have proven that the product performs as well as, and, sometimes, in some aspects, better than in-feed antibiotics.

About Vivamune™ Health Chews (Vivamune)
Vivamune is an all-in-one chew that can dramatically simplify a pet’s supplement routine. Featuring a newly-discovered, novel immune-supporting active ingredient, OxC-beta™, Vivamune targets joints, skin and digestive health all in a single, tasty chew a pet will love. Vivamune is available for sale in the United States. For more information, visit www.vivamunehealth.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon the current expectations of management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties associated with the business of Avivagen Inc. and the environment in which the business operates. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking, including those identified by the expressions “aim”, “anticipate”, “appear”, “believe”, “consider”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “if”, “intend”, “goal”, “hope”, “likely”, “may”, “plan”, “possibly”, “potentially”, “pursue”, “seem”, “should”, “whether”, “will”, “would” and similar expressions. Statements set out in this news release relating to the expectation that OxC-beta™ Livestock and Vivamune could replace antibiotics in livestock feeds are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. For instance, Avivagen’s products may not be widely successful or accepted as a replacement for antibiotics in livestock feeds due to many factors, many of which are outside of Avivagen’s control. Except as required by law, Avivagen assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information:
Avivagen Inc.
Drew Basek
Director of Investor Relations
100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6
Phone: 416-540-0733
E-mail: [email protected]

Kym Anthony
Chairman & Interim CEO
100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6
Head Office Phone: 613-949-8164
Website: www.avivagen.com

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