Blis sees more cash in bacteria

By KEVIN TAYLOR

Listed biotechnology company Blis Technologies has unveiled its second product, which will hit pharmacy shelves in mid-March.

The company says Bio Restore, which restores beneficial oral and intestinal bacteria after a course of antibiotics, is a world first.

Bio Restore's launch follows that of Blis K12 Throat Guard last year, which restores just beneficial oral bacteria after antibiotic use.

Antibiotics kill all bacteria indiscriminately.

Blis chief executive Kelvin Moffatt said Bio Restore, which comes in a sachet made in Germany, had the potential to more than double Blis K12 sales.

It would also give the company a product suited to year-round use and was less dependent on winter ailments.

The two products, K12 and Bio Restore, are to be sold together in one box.

Bio Restore replaces naturally occurring beneficial bacteria that help support the body's defences against the potential overgrowth of undesirable micro-organisms following a course of antibiotics.

"It gives us a second product to build revenue," Moffatt said.

Bio Restore would be sold only through pharmacies.

It would be advertised on television and in magazines, and was being pushed to pharmacists and doctors.

Moffatt said it was developed in response to growing demand from pharmacists for a well-researched intestinal product that complemented the oral bacteria in the K12 lozenge.

Blis will soon start on clinical trials for its next product - which it claims will help fight tooth decay.

Blis Technologies was formed in June 2000 to pursue the commercialisation of Blis (bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances).

These are produced by bacteria to kill or inhibit the growth of other closely related bacteria.

Blis' major shareholders are Otago University with 20 per cent, Southern Capital with 15.7 per cent, and businessman Howard Paterson with 11 per cent.

In November Blis revealed a $1.278 million loss in the six months to the end of September, compared with a $274,000 loss over the same period last year.

Sales revenue from K12 was $182,000 for the period.

Blis Technologies listed in July last year at $1.05 and closed yesterday at 35c.