Wellbeing Subsidiary KGK Science Announces Successful Results of UP360, a Nutraceutical Ingredient Demonstrating Beneficial Immune Defense Response

A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving supplementation with UP360 provides evidence for a robust, healthy immune response in healthy adults following influenza vaccination.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$KONEF #psychedelics–Wellbeing Digital Sciences Inc. (“Wellbeing” or the “Company”) (NEO: MEDI) (OTC: KONEF) (FRA: SQ2), an evidence-based mental healthcare company focused on the development and implementation of innovative clinical solutions, including psychedelic medicine and digital therapeutics as supported by clinical research, announced today that a clinical study conducted by its wholly owned subsidiary KGK Science Inc. (“KGK”), has shown positive results of UP360 supplementation in helping mount a robust immune response following influenza vaccination.

UP360, a naturally-derived health and wellness ingredient developed by Unigen Inc. (“Unigen”), contains extracts from both the Poria cocos mushroom and rosemary as well as Aloe vera gel powder. The resultant proprietary blend of these botanical ingredients in UP360 produces antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. This is the first study to examine a proprietary combination of these ingredients using a human vaccine model. The randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving supplementation with UP360 provides evidence for a robust, healthy immune response in adults following influenza vaccination.

Healthy adult participants between 40-80 years of age, who had not yet received their influenza vaccine, were randomized to either UP360 or placebo for 56 days. Halfway through the study, at day 28, participants received a flu vaccine. The results, published in Frontiers in Nutrition, showed that supplementation with UP360 significantly increased the percentage of TCR gamma-delta cells, known to provide a first line of immune defense for mucosal membranes, in the post-vaccination period compared to placebo. Furthermore, participants supplemented with UP360 had significant increases in blood levels of glutathione peroxidase – antioxidative stress biomarker – and influenza B-specific IgG antibodies before and after vaccination, respectively.

“UP360 supplementation provided a beneficial immune defense response and improved antioxidant function in conjunction with traditional vaccination, adopted by many as part of their overall immune health strategy,” says Dr. Corey Hilmas, Chief Scientific Affairs and Regulatory Officer at KGK Science. “Using a vaccine model offered a unique strategy to evaluate the effect of UP360 oral administration on the immune response.”

Unigen President and CEO, Dr. Qi Jia, added, “This study is a critical step toward providing consumers with immune support products backed by rigorous science. Selectively promoting the cell types responsible for mucosal immune responses can play an important role to offer further support for the immune system in those who have already received a flu vaccine. This strategy can be applied across the entire spectrum of the healthy, vaccinated, general population, particularly the elderly.”

Prior to expanding the specific application of UP360 ingredients, further research is warranted to better understand efficacy among populations at greater risk of upper respiratory tract infections, such as older adults, teachers, and individuals with seasonal respiratory allergy, as well as the effect on other clinically relevant immune cell populations.

ABOUT UNIGEN INC.

Unigen discovers, develops, and manufactures proprietary natural-product active ingredients for dietary supplements, cosmetic and personal care products, prescription medical food and botanical drug products. The Company discovers its ingredients through its high throughput screening PhytoLogix® approach applied to a proprietary well-annotated collection of botanicals and a legacy mining approach applied to botanicals having known medicinal benefits.

Mechanism of action, safety and efficacy are documented with extensive preclinical in vitro and in vivo testing and by human clinical studies. Unigen protects its discoveries with issued patents and patent filings in all major territories and manufactures its products to GMP standards. Unigen commercializes its proprietary ingredients through licensing and ingredient supply alliances with commercial partners engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of end-products in each of Unigen’s target markets.

ABOUT KGK SCIENCE

Subsidiary of Wellbeing Digital Sciences, KGK is a leading North American contract research organization based in London, Ontario that primarily provides high-quality clinical research trials with a focus on nutraceutical and emerging health care products. Founded in 1997, the business has successfully helped hundreds of companies with custom designed clinical trials and claim substantiation strategies to move products into global markets. KGK’s other existing service lines include expert regulatory support and compliance solutions, participant recruitment, research support services and consulting services. Furthermore, the company has produced over 150 publications, executed over 400 clinical trials across more than 40 indications, amassed 25,000 participants in its database and collected 10 million data points. For additional information, please visit kgkscience.com.

ABOUT WELLBEING DIGITAL SCIENCES

Wellbeing Digital Sciences Inc. is an evidence-based mental healthcare company focused on the development and implementation of innovative clinical treatment solutions, including psychedelic medicine and digital therapeutics, as supported by clinical research. Its mission is supported by a network of North American clinics that provide forward-thinking therapies and other types of treatment to patients as well as through a contract research organization that offers clinical trials services to clients pursuing drug development. For additional information, please visit wellbeingdigital.co.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains forward-looking statements including but not limited to statements regarding the Company’s business, assets or investments, as well other statements that are not historical facts. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, investor interest in the business and prospects of the Company.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made, by third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

Contacts

On behalf of:

Najla Guthrie
Chief Executive Officer

WELLBEING DIGITAL SCIENCES


For further information, please contact:

Natalie Dolphin
VP of Marketing & Investment Relations

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Wellbeing_IR

Kathy Markham
Marketing Manager

Unigen, Inc.

Email: [email protected]
Website: http://unigen.net