Breakthrough Treatment for Bad Breath

30 September 2005

BLIS Technologies to Launch Breakthrough Treatment for Bad Breath

Listed biotechnology company BLIS Technologies, best known for its BLIS K12 Throat Guard, is about to launch its fourth product; a Fresh Breath Kit designed especially for people suffering from chronic bad breath.

Kelvin Moffatt, BLIS Technologies chief executive, says, "The Fresh Breath Kit will go on sale in early October and will provide immediate and ongoing relief to more than 85% of those who are afflicted with chronic bad breath."

BLIS Technologies became one of the first New Zealand companies to commercially release a biotechnology product to the consumer market in May 2002 when it launched BLIS K12 Throat Guard. The following year BLIS launched two further products; BLIS Bio RESTORE, a product to restore beneficial bacteria in the mouth, throat and intestinal tract following a course of anti-biotics, and BLIS Throat Spray for soothing dry & irritated throats.

The BLIS K12 Fresh Breath Kit will be available in pharmacies and dental practices. It comprises eight doses of a two-part high strength mouthwash, a tongue cleaner, and 80 pieces of specially formulated peppermint flavoured chewing gum containing Streptococcus salivarius K12, a naturally occurring strain of bacteria that produces BLIS (Bacteriocin-Like Inhibitory Substance) compounds.

"Bad breath control represents a significant commercial opportunity for the company as studies have shown that people with chronic bad breath typically either lack or have very low levels of the normally predominant Streptococcus salivarius in their mouths. Their tongues become inhabited by undesirable bacteria responsible for bad breath, whereas those with healthy breath typically have high levels of the beneficial Streptococcus salivarius oral bacteria on their tongues," says Mr Moffatt.

The new Fresh Breath Kit provides an eight week course of treatment and works by firstly providing a tongue cleaner and specialised mouthwash to reduce the number of undesirable bacteria in the mouth, followed by a high dose probiotic gum to re-colonise the mouth with Streptococcus salivarius K12.

While there are a number of possible causes of chronic bad breath, around 85% of chronic bad breath is caused by undesirable bacteria that live on the back of the tongue. These people often suffer from a basic imbalance in their oral microflora that normal oral hygiene practices have little impact on. Some illnesses, such as kidney or liver failure can also cause bad breath, however these conditions are responsible for less than 15% of cases of chronic bad breath. Those who otherwise enjoy good health should gain immediate and ongoing benefit by using the BLIS K12 Fresh Breath Kit.

"BLIS Technologies' strategy is to take its products to market early in New Zealand, prior to international roll out. A mouthwash containing BLIS K12 went on sale in Australia and the US late last year and our distribution partners are reporting that sales are building steadily. We are also assessing opportunities in Western Europe. The Fresh Breath Kit combining a tongue cleaner, a specialised mouthwash and a high dose probiotic chewing gum together in one package makes the new product an even more attractive proposition for overseas distributors and consumers," Mr Moffatt said.

The Fresh Breath Kit provides BLIS with another advantage in that bad breath treatments are not subject to the same regulatory constraints as BLIS K12 Throat Guard; providing an alternative route to market for the companies Streptococcus salivarius K12 products overseas."

"Following the completion of our trials in early 2004(1), we have promoted the use of BLIS K12 Throat Guard to help guard against bad breath. The Fresh Breath Kit provides a higher dose treatment specifically for those with more severe chronic bad breath. Whereas Throat Guard is designed to help assist the bodies natural defences against infection from relatively small numbers of invading bacteria, treating severe bad breath requires overcoming a much larger population of long-established undesirable microorganisms. Hence the need to use a higher dose regime together with a more specialised pre-treatment mouthwash," Mr Moffatt said.

Around 2% of the population suffer more severe chronic oral malodour. This is a serious and ongoing problem which can lead to social isolation, have an adverse impact on their quality of life and sometimes even prompt considerations of suicide.

"Studies of the prevalence of bad breath in the general population show that the problem increases with age and, while it doesn't differ in its occurrence between the sexes, women are more likely to be aware of the problem and to seek assistance to remedy it," Mr Moffatt said.

A study in Japan involving 2,672 people indicated that 6-23% of subjects had oral malodour, as judged by their breath levels of volatile sulphur compounds (2). A United States study of people over 60 years found 24% had oral malodour (3), and in other research it has been estimated that approximately 50% of middle aged and other people have socially unacceptable breath when they wake up each morning (4).

"This new treatment represents a breakthrough for people who are currently living with the social stigma of severe bad breath and its associated impact on their daily lives, and provides the company's partners with a further product in our export markets," Mr Moffatt said.

ENDS

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