Ceapro: Rapid Diabetes Risk Assessment Test Now in Production
CeaProve(R) Effectively Identifies Diabetic Risk
EDMONTON, ALBERTA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/13/07 -- Ceapro Inc. (TSX VENTURE: CZO): CeaProve®, a diabetes screening test, makes detecting the fastest growing chronic condition in North America easier - and more palatable. CeaProve® does not require a prescription and can be dispensed outside a clinical setting, substantially reducing costs and increasing screening availability and flexibility. Two major clinical studies show a significant advantage of this test over the traditional glucose drink is its oat starch component - from Ceapro's proprietary technology.
Disturbing Stats
It is estimated that:
- Type 2 diabetes currently affects over 2.2 million Canadians
- Some 15% of Canadians have "pre-diabetes"
- As many as 1/3 of these people are unaware of their condition
- Many people live with pre-diabetes for as much as five to ten years before being tested or becoming aware of its symptoms
- The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of diabetes is preventable.
"In a recent study conducted by Ceapro, as many as 40% of participants were found to be at risk for pre-diabetes and 10% at risk for diabetes," notes Dr. Mark Redmond, President & CEO of Ceapro. "In workplace studies, 96% of people tested believed they were healthy prior to screening: half were shocked to find out that their blood glucose was elevated, indicating pre-diabetes or diabetes."
Action Plan
Diabetes is preventable and CeaProve® is a user-friendly tool for its early detection. It is a more accurate and better tolerated alternative to the existing tests for diabetes and pre-diabetes - if people aren't put off by the test, they are likelier to take it. Fast overnight, test blood sugar with a glucose meter, and then eat the six wafers. An hour later, re-test: blood sugar above a certain level indicates an increased risk of diabetes. Through lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) people can improve their future health and not become part of an unfortunate statistic: 80% of people diagnosed with diabetes will die of a heart attack or stroke.
With epidemic increases in the incidences of Diabetes - much of which can be avoided - early and regular testing for glucose intolerance is now easier and more pleasant. Manufacturing of the CeaProve® test kits is underway. Ceapro is working with Massy-Forget Public Relations of Montreal for the consumer communication roll-out. Announcement of general and workplace testing through a medical lab facility is expected shortly, and kits are expected to become available in pharmacies next year. CeaProve® could identify hundreds of thousands of consumers at risk, save time and resources and potentially reduce the incidences of diabetes, classified by the International Diabetes Association as a worldwide epidemic.
About Ceapro Inc.
Ceapro Technology Inc., Ceapro Veterinary Products Inc., Ceapro Active Ingredients Inc. and Ceapro Bioenergy Inc. are wholly owned subsidiaries of Ceapro Inc., which is a Canadian growth-stage biotechnology company. Our primary business activities relate to the development and commercialization of organic products for medical, cosmetic and animal health industries using proprietary technology and natural, renewable resources. We will be applying our technology to become an active participant in the bioenergy sector. We have also introduced health and wellness services employing our CeaProve® screening technology. Ceapro shares trade on the Canadian TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol CZO. To learn more about Ceapro, visit www.ceapro.com .
The TSX Venture has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein - This release may contain forward-looking statements. Various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the Company's expectations are correct. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
Contacts: Ceapro Inc. Dr Mark Redmond President and CEO Edmonton: 780-421-4555 mredmond@ceapro.com Sun International Communications Nicole Blanchard Managing Partner Montreal: 450-973-6600 nicole.blanchard@isuncomm.com
Released November 13, 2007