EDMONTON, ALBERTA, April 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ceapro Inc. (TSX-V:CZO), a growth-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of active ingredients for healthcare and cosmetic industries, announced today that it has established a long-term formal collaboration with the prestigious Montreal Heart Institute (MHI).

While this agreement will consist of multiple projects, it is expected that the first clinical study will assess Ceapro’s beta-glucan as a cholesterol-lowering agent in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (pending review and approval of the protocol by Health Canada).

“We are honoured to work with the expert team from Montreal Heart Institute, one of the foremost research centers specializing in cardiovascular disease in Canada and beyond. The Montreal Heart Institute specialty is exactly in line with Ceapro’s contemplated sector of activities in inflammation-based diseases, metabolic syndrome and other lifestyle diseases as well as personalized medicine. This agreement is a major step in the transition of Ceapro from a contract manufacturer to a full fledge biopharmaceutical company. The project will be coordinated by the Montreal Health Innovations Coordinating Center (MHICC). We look forward to a long and successful collaboration with the MHICC team as our main partner for our clinical research program. The MHICC offers a fully integrated program from project design to biostatistics and has an extensive network of clinical research centres around the world,” commented Gilles R. Gagnon, M.Sc., MBA, President and CEO of Ceapro.

Jean-Claude Tardif, CM, MD, Director of the Montreal Heart Institute Research Center, said, “We are pleased to enter into this collaboration and to initiate, hopefully very soon, a clinical trial aimed at evaluating Ceapro’s beta-glucan product. This study is generating significant interest in our environment as it will test a new approach to lowering plasma cholesterol.’’

About the Montreal Heart Institute

Founded in 1954 by Dr. Paul David, the Montreal Heart Institute constantly aims for the highest standards of excellence in the cardiovascular field through its leadership in clinical and basic research, ultra-specialized care, professional training, and prevention. It is part of the broad network of health excellence made up of Université de Montréal and its affiliated institutions. For more information, please visit the MHI. The Montreal Health Innovations Coordinating Center, a subsidiary of the MHI, is a full service clinical academic research organization providing services to the academic community as well as the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries.

About Ceapro Inc.

Ceapro Inc. is a Canadian biotechnology company involved in the development of proprietary extraction technology and the application of this technology to the production of extracts and “active ingredients” from oats and other renewable plant resources. Ceapro adds further value to its extracts by supporting their use in cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and therapeutics products for humans and animals. The Company has a broad range of expertise in natural product chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology and process engineering. These skills merge in the fields of active ingredients, biopharmaceuticals and drug-delivery solutions. For more information on Ceapro, please visit the Company’s website at www.ceapro.com.

For more information contact:

Jenene Thomas
Jenene Thomas Communications, LLC
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Advisor
T (US): +1 (833) 475-8247
E: [email protected]

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