Wellmune

We love it when there are innovative new ways that consumers can easily enjoy the everyday immune health benefits of Wellmune WGP. In this case, Wellmune is now incorporated in a filter for the blue water bottle shown – or any bottle you choose. Talk about an effortless way to support immune health.

The folks at LiveWell were sold on the immune health clinical research behind Wellmune WGP and you’ll see that our logo is displayed on the filter’s packaging.

You can learn more about this novel delivery system in the following news release from LiveWell, a company committed to health, wellness and addressing safety issues for drinking water.

LiveWell™ introduces LiveHealthy Immune Support System with Wellmune WGP® for daily immune support

Boise, Idaho, 4/30/12-  LiveWell LLC is expanding the offerings in its LiveWell Healthy Hydration System to include the LiveHealthy with Immune Health Support System with Wellmune WGP®. LiveWell Healthy Hydration Systems enable consumers to enjoy clean, enhanced, filtered water while on the go and without the cost and waste of bottled water.

The all-natural Wellmune WGP immune health ingredient is clinically proven to safely prime the immune system to keep the body healthy. Numerous peer-reviewed, published studies demonstrate that Wellmune WGP mobilizes billions of innate immune cells that are part of the body’s natural defenses without over stimulating the immune system. LiveHealthy with Immune Health Support comes in a choice of Lemon Lime or Orange Creamsicle flavors. The filters can be used on specially designed LiveHealthy water bottles or on almost any bottled water. As with all LiveWell systems, they are BPA free and biodegradable.

The Livewell system was first developed by a youth soccer coach who wanted his kids to hydrate with safe, healthy water instead of popular sports drinks loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients.

“LiveWell understands that consumers are seeking new, effective vitamin delivery forms that are easy to use and provide benefits for immune support,” said Rick Anson, CEO, LiveWell. “We chose WellmuneWGP^® as our core immunity ingredient because of the science backing its health benefits.”

“Busy families now have the convenience of filtration, hydration and clinically proven immune support right at hand with the introduction of the LiveHealthy with Immune Support hydration system,” said Rich Mueller, president and CEO, Biothera. “It’s easy to use and a novel delivery system to reap the everyday benefits of Wellmune WGP.”

Wellmune WGP is patented, Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) under U.S. FDA regulations, Kosher, Halal, non-allergenic and GMO-free.

For more information on LiveHealthy with Wellmune WGP, please visit www.livewellwater.com and www.wellmune.com.

About LiveWell™

LiveWell LLC is committed to consumer’s health and wellness, addressing safety issues for drinking water, and becoming the industry leader in eco-efficient products that are as environmentally and economically sustainable as possible.

About Wellmune WGP^®

Wellmune WGP is a natural carbohydrate that is clinically proven to prime key immune cells that keep the body healthy. This unique food, beverage and supplement ingredient is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) under U.S. FDA regulations. It is also patented, Kosher, Halal, non-allergenic and GMO-free. The ingredient is a recipient of an IFT Innovation Award and a Frost & Sullivan Excellence in Research Award. Wellmune WGP is a product of Biothera, a U.S. biotechnology company dedicated to improving immune health.

###

Elaine Watson of Nutraingredients-USA.com caught up with Rich Mueller, Biothera healthcare group president, to discuss the challenges manufacturers face to support immune health claims. Mueller noted that using vitamins and minerals is not enough and that it takes ingredients based on numerous clinical studies demonstrating the direct correlation between a specific ingredient strain and the immune health benefit. The story also included mention of Praeventia Cookies with Wellmune WGP from Biothera now available at 500 Walmart stores.  Biothera” ‘Using vitamins and minerals alone to support immune claims is not enough’

EAGAN, MN — February 27, 2012 — The EU is investing 6M Euros in an international research project evaluating the immune health effects of Wellmune WGP® and several other functional food ingredients.

The FibeBiotics project is a consortium of four European universities, five research institutions and several private companies that will study the effect of food fibers on the human immune system. Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research, The Netherlands, is coordinating the 4.5-year project.

Wellmune WGP is gluco polysaccharide that is clinically proven to safely prime key immune cells that help keep the body healthy. Derived from a proprietary strain of yeast, Wellmune WGP mobilizes neutrophils, which are the largest population of immune cells in the body and part of the body’s first line of defense.

“We are pleased that Wellmune WGP is part of this important scientific research project,” said Rich Mueller, Biothera president and chief executive officer. “It will be complementary to our internal research program that is designed to expand understanding of our unique technology and its global immune health benefits.”

According to a FibeBiotics statement: “It is known for a long time that polysaccharides (other than easy digestible starch) and the immune system are connected. The immune response towards invading pathogens like bacteria, fungi and yeast is often initiated by the recognition of the intruder via the sugar chains that are located on the outside of the pathogen. After this recognition the immune system is activated and attempts to remove the pathogen as fast as possible.

“Research indicated that some specific polysaccharides, for example those from the cell wall of yeast or those that are present in various plant products, can activate the immune system starting from the intestine, even when no intruders are present. Various polysaccharides have been shown to activate macrophages, which can ‘digest’ pathogens and unwanted cells. An activated, warned or primed first layer of defence can help to improve the overall resistance of humans.”

About Biothera
Biothera is a U.S. biotechnology company dedicated to improving immune health. It manufactures and markets patented, natural ingredients for functional foods, beverages and nutritional supplements worldwide. Its flagship ingredient, Wellmune WGP, is the culmination of more than $300 million in research with leading university and government institutions. Wellmune WGP is formulated in food, beverage and supplement products in more than 35 countries. It has broad regulatory approval worldwide including GRAS status in the U.S. and novel foods approval in Europe and China. Wellmune is a recipient of an IFT Innovation Award, a 2011 SupplySide West Scientific Excellence Award and a Frost & Sullivan Excellence in Research Award.

Contact:
David Walsh
VP Communications
Biothera, the Immune Health Company
651-256-4606
dwalsh@biothera.com

Flu activity probably won’t officially peak until January or February, but it could hit you any time between now and next May. While the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends protecting yourself with an annual flu vaccine, it cautions you to take other preventive steps to avoid getting sick.

One infectious disease expert recently alerted the public not to get too complacent after getting a flu shot. “… It’s not doing the job we needed it to do,” commented Michael Osterholm, director for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. In his interview with WCCO TV, Osterholm further stated that his organization is working to ensure that more effective flu vaccines are brought to market. Osterholm repeated similar cautions on WCCO radio.

No one can absolutely predict which flu viruses will appear in any given flu season. The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. For the vaccine to be delivered on time, experts must try to figure out which viruses to include many months in advance. There is always the chance that the viruses circulating among us may not be an optimal match to viruses in the vaccine.

To further improve the odds of you and your family avoiding the flu this season:

1. Stay away from sick people. It seems obvious but still bears repeating. Experts believe most flu cases are spread by coughs, sneezes and even talking – and you can catch it from up to six feet away.
2. Take Wellmune WGP daily. Wellmune is not a drug so it cannot prevent or treat any disease. However, it is a natural food, beverage and supplement ingredient that promotes a strong and healthy immune system. Which is especially helpful because people can begin infecting others with the flu as much as a full day before their first symptoms appear. They may not even know they are sick yet!
3. Wash your hands frequently. You may also get the flu by touching something that has the virus on it, then touching your mouth or nose.

And if you do get sick, stay home. You can continue to spread the disease to other people as long as a week after becoming sick.

Ladies, here’s some good news if you lead a moderately or highly stressed lifestyle, and you’ve had enough of feeling sick and tired all the time. You may be able to reduce some of those miserable cold and flu symptoms such as sore throats and coughs, while also boosting your mood and energy level.

We all know that the psychological stress associated with everyday life can lower your immune system. It can also make you feel emotionally tired and less peppy. A study conducted by Dr. Shawn Talbott at SupplementWatch and presented to the American College of Nutrition involved 77 healthy women aged 38  + 12 years who were pre-screened for moderate levels of psychological stress. The women were given either a placebo or 250 mg. of Wellmune WGP for 12 weeks.

Whereas 29 percent of the control group reported having symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection (sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, and cough), only 10 percent of the Wellmune group reported similar symptoms.

The researchers also used psychological surveys to assess the women’s mental and physical levels, and found that vigor  improved in 41 percent of women taking Wellmune WGP (compared to 7 percent in the control group). Overall wellbeing, as measured by Global Mood State, improved 29 percent in women taking Wellmune compared to 16 percent in the placebo group.

“These are important findings for the millions of ‘stressed’ women around the world,” said Dr. Talbott.  “This study shows that while daily stressors can ‘wear down’ immune system function, supplementing with Wellmune WGP can bolster those natural defenses and help stressed women feel and perform at their best.”

When LovetoKnow.com asked celebrity fitness and nutrition expert JJ Virgin, from TLC’s Freaky Eaters, to share some of her favorite tips – we were pleased to see Wellmune  WGP® ranked high on her list. The interview, which was actually on how to exercise for weight loss and keep the pounds off through exercise and nutrition, included JJ’s suggestions for people who have tried many different diet and exercise programs, and still have difficulty losing weight.

You can’t get a great workout if you aren’t well, and JJ pointed out that Wellmune WGP works to keep you healthy by mobilizing billions of innate immune cells that are part of your body’s natural defenses. “It helps maintain energy, vitality and mental clarity when you are stressed,” she added.

JJ didn’t mention that a recent clinical study at the University of Houston demonstrated that Wellmune WGP reduced immune suppression that normally occurs following high intensity exercise.  This means that both recreational and elite athletes may be able to work out hard and longer without lowering their immunity.

Biothera Analytical Methods Adopted for New Industry Standard

EAGAN, MN — September 8, 2011 — The United States Pharmacopeia (USP), in collaboration with Biothera, has developed the first official monograph for beta glucan from bakers yeast (Saccharomyces Cerevisiae), a natural food, beverage and dietary supplement ingredient widely recognized for its immune health benefits.

The monograph was recently issued in the Third Supplement of the Seventh Edition of the Food Chemicals Codex, an internationally recognized compendium of standards for the purity and identity of food ingredients.

Biothera is a biotechnology company dedicated to improving immune health.  The company manufactures Wellmune WGP^®, a proprietary bakers yeast beta glucan clinically proven to prime key immune cells that help keep the body healthy and vital.  Biothera contributed the reference standard and two methods for identifying and quantifying the beta 1,3/1,6 branched glucan polymer derived from the cell walls of bakers yeast.

EAGAN, MN — April 27, 2011 — A new study published today as the cover story in the journal Nature features Biothera’s beta glucans and new discoveries about how these unique immunodulating compounds prime the innate immune system to protect the body.

This research confirmed that not all beta glucans are alike.  Researchers led by David Underhill, Ph.D. demonstrated that beta glucan size and molecular structure is critical to receptor binding and the resulting innate immune cell response.  Dr. Underhill and his research team found that specific beta glucan structures bind to a particular receptor (Dectin-1) while other beta glucans structures did not.

“This research demonstrates that the structure of beta glucans matters,” said William Grossman, M.D., Ph.D., Biothera senior vice president of Research & Development.  “Even slight molecular differences in beta glucans affect the signaling pathways used to induce different killing mechanisms.  These data expand on our previous research showing that some of our other beta glucan structures bind to CR3, inducing separate and unique mechanisms.”

The study shows that Dectin-1 distinguishes between direct microbial contact and detection of microbes at a distance, a distinction that enables effective microbial killing responses.  When bound to Biothera’s Wellmune WGP®, Dectin-1 signaling primed immune cells for phagocytosis, a mechanism used to recognize and destroy pathogens.

“This research was possible because of Biothera’s capability to isolate, modify and characterize these beta glucan compounds,” said Dr. Underhill, associate professor, IBD and Immunobiology Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Biothera is a U.S. biotechnology company that is pioneering beta glucan research.  The company has developed glucans as both pharmaceutical applications and immune health ingredients for foods, beverages and supplements.  The company’s Imprime PGG® is an injectable drug that is currently in a Phase III clinical trial for colorectal cancer and multiple Phase II trials for non small cell lung cancer.  Biothera’s Wellmune WGP® is a food-grade, immune-health ingredient for functional foods, beverages and supplements in more than 30 countries.

“We’re pleased to be able to contribute to the growing body of research surrounding beta glucan structures and their relationship to functional mechanisms,” said Don Cox, Ph.D., senior vice president, Biothera Healthcare Research & Development.

The title of the Nature paper is “Activation of the Innate Immune Receptor Dectin-1 upon Formation of a ‘Phagocytic Synapse.’” The paper is accessible on the Nature website.

About Biothera, the Immune Health Company
Biothera is a biotechnology company dedicated to improving immune health. The company is commercializing its unique technology platform through two business groups. Biothera’s Pharmaceutical Group is conducting multiple clinical trials for the development of an immune modulating drug that mobilizes the innate immune system to fight most types of cancer. The company’s Healthcare Group is a leading provider of natural immune health ingredients for the functional food and beverage, dietary supplement, cosmetic and animal nutrition markets.

Contact:
David Walsh
VP Communications
Biothera, the Immune Health Company
651-256-4606 (direct)
dwalsh@biothera.com

Natural Products Insider, December 2010

Wellmune WGP significantly reduced the duration of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms in a healthy population of medical students during the peak of the cold-flu season.  The research was presented last week at a British Society for Immunology conference in Liverpool, UK.

New Glucan Enzymatic Method (GEM™) published in peer-reviewed chemistry journal

EAGAN, MN — September 2, 2010 — A method for analyzing beta glucan content of raw ingredients as well as finished food, beverage and supplement products that is more accurate and precise than previously described methods was published yesterday in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a peer-reviewed publication of the American Chemical Society.

Chemists at Biothera, the manufacturer of Wellmune WGP® and other premium yeast beta 1,3/1,6 glucan ingredients, developed the Glucan Enzymatic Method (GEM™) as a solution to shortcomings of traditional glucan assays. Methods employing acid hydrolysis, for example, break down the beta glucan and all other polysaccharides present into glucose. The inability to distinguish between polysaccharides often results in an overestimation of the actual beta glucan content. GEM relies upon selective enzymes that detect beta glucan and break it down to glucose while leaving other polysaccharides intact.

“GEM is an important advancement in the chemical characterization of beta glucans,” said Richard Mueller, Biothera president and chief executive officer. “For the first time, food, beverage and supplement manufacturers can confirm scientifically the purity and quality of the ingredients they are adding to their products. Consumers also can have confidence that GEM-tested products contain the beta glucan dosage as labeled.”

Another important application of GEM is beta glucan analysis for finished products. For quality control purposes, manufacturers want a reliable assay to confirm dosage and label requirements. “GEM is the only assay for finished product analysis,” said Mueller. “No other ingredient supplier can match Biothera’s expertise in chemistry, biology and clinical research.”

The research paper is entitled, “Enzymatic Method To Measure β-1,3-β-1,6-Glucan Content in Extracts and Formulated Products (GEM Assay).” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

About Wellmune WGP®
Wellmune WGP is a natural ingredient that is clinically proven to enhance key immune cells that are the body’s first line of defense. Designed for functional foods, beverages and supplements, Wellmune WGP strengthens innate immune cells to more quickly find and kill foreign challenges. Wellmune WGP also enhances the immune system to protect against the harmful effects of physical or lifestyle stress. Wellmune WGP is patented, GRAS, TGA-approved, Kosher, Halal, non-allergenic and GMO-free. The ingredient is recipient of an IFT Innovation Award and a Frost & Sullivan Excellence in Research Award. Wellmune WGP is a product of Biothera, a U.S. biotechnology company dedicated to improving immune health.

Contact: 
David Walsh
VP Communications
Biothera, the Immune Health Company
651-256-4606 (direct)
dwalsh@biothera.com