Ceapro signs a worldwide licensing agreement for its flaghip product with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

EDMONTON, May 8, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Ceapro Inc. (CZO-V) ("Ceapro" or the Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a licensing agreement with AAFC for the sole worldwide rights for all fields of use for an avenanthramide process technology. This innovative technology will allow Ceapro to increase multiple times the output of its commercialized bio-active compounds called avenanthramides. These compounds are polyphenols uniquely found in oats in very small quantities. While Ceapro has developed a unique expertise in extracting and purifying these compounds and is the only commercial manufacturer worldwide, small quantities found in oats and obtained from Ceapro's proprietary extraction process have limited the markets that could be serviced so far, mainly for cosmetics and personal care applications in dermatology.

"Our core value driver is avenanthramides and this new technology licensed from the Canadian Government will be a game changer for Ceapro. In addition to the cosmetics market, this new technology should allow Ceapro to develop large quantities of new products from avenanthramides with potential applications in functional food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical areas, which represent very large potential markets", said Mr. Gilles Gagnon, Acting CEO. "This licensing agreement with the Canadian Government is of the utmost strategic and timely importance for Ceapro and our flaghip product, which will be manufactured in our upcoming state of the art facility as announced recently" he added.

"We are very excited that AAFC has determined that Ceapro, a Canadian biotechnology company, has the unique ability to rapidly commercialize this technology related to a unique class of molecules, first discovered about 25 years ago by Dr. Bill Collins, an AAFC scientist. . Since then, several research groups, including Ceapro, have been actively studying avenanthramides in many potential indications such as metabolic diseases, atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel syndrome, colon cancer and exercise induced inflammation" said David Fielder, Chief Scientific Officer.

About Ceapro Inc.

Ceapro Inc. is a Canadian growth-stage biotechnology company. Primary business activities relate to the development and commercialization of active ingredients for personal care and cosmetic industries using proprietary technology and natural, renewable resources. To learn more about Ceapro, visit www.ceapro.com.

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.

 

Branko Jankovic
Vice President and CFO
Ceapro Inc.
T (Edmonton): 780.917.8376
E: [email protected]

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