ZIVO Bioscience Reports Progress with Coccidiosis Treatment Licensing Opportunities
Expects to enter into formal negotiations with a global animal health company in January 2025 and to finalize an agreement in the first quarter of 2025
Zivo Bioscience, Inc. (OTCQB:ZIVO), a pioneering biotech/agtech R&D company dedicated to developing therapeutic, medicinal and nutritional product candidates derived from proprietary algal cultures, today provided an update on activities related to licensing its product targeting coccidiosis in broiler chickens.
Following the announcement in August 2024 of positive results from a 42-day coccidiosis study, the Company has been engaged in discussions with a number of major global animal health companies regarding a potential exclusive license for ZIVO's product. Prospective licensees are actively pursuing their respective due diligence processes, including technical evaluations, patent reviews and business case assessments.
Assuming the satisfactory completion of due diligence, ZIVO expects to enter into formal negotiations next month with the goal of finalizing an agreement in the first quarter of 2025. ZIVO intends to pursue deal terms that includes an upfront payment, milestone payments tied to commercialization targets and a royalty based on product sales.
"We are focused on securing an agreement that aligns with our commercialization strategy and delivers long-term value to our shareholders. Although our license dialogues remain ongoing and there can be no assurance we will be successful in negotiating a definitive agreement, we are highly encouraged by the progress we have made over the past four months and by the level of interest expressed by prospective partners. Our product holds potential as a standalone treatment and also can enhance the efficacy of ionophores and vaccines, representing a compelling and transformative value proposition for the poultry industry," said John B. Payne, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZIVO Biosciences.
In addition, building upon last week's announcement of preliminary efficacy against avian influenza in poultry, the Company reports that it intends to advance development work on its product candidate targeting transmission of Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (LPAI) virus among poultry flocks. ZIVO plans to initiate additional studies at the University of Delaware to further optimize dosage and formulation, with the goal of maximizing the product's efficacy and market readiness.
"To date our active ingredients have demonstrated effectiveness against both parasitic and viral diseases. This remarkable versatility provides distinct commercial opportunities, including as a combination product in viral indications," added Mr. Payne.
About Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis is a protozoal disease that causes diarrhea, weight loss, decreased performance and increased mortality in poultry. This disease represents a significant economic challenge for the global poultry industry, with the estimated annual costs in excess of $15 billion annually. Products for treating coccidiosis are mostly antibiotic- or ionophore-based, and no significant new commercial technology has been introduced in the past 60 years. The global poultry industry spent approximately $1.1 billion in 2024, and is estimated to grow to $1.5 billion in 2029, on coccidiosis control, primarily using decades-old compounds that industry and consumers alike want to replace due to the risks of developing drug resistance. Coccidiosis is a common disease for chickens, especially among young chicks, and can be fatal or result in compromised digestion.
About ZIVO Bioscience
Zivo Bioscience, Inc. is a research and development company with an intellectual property portfolio comprised of proprietary algal and bacterial strains, biologically active molecules and complexes, production techniques, cultivation techniques and patented or patent pending inventions for applications in human and animal health. Please visit www.zivobioscience.com for more information.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for any historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including with respect to the Company's product candidate's potential to generate revenues and the expected time frame for results of future studies. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although ZIVO believes that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our expectations of the future, about which we cannot be certain. Our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect due to factors largely outside our control, including risks that our strategic partnerships may not facilitate the commercialization or market acceptance of our products; risks that we will be unable to increase production sufficient to meet our expected demand; risks that our products may not be ready for commercialization in a timely manner or at all; risks that our products will not perform as expected based on results of our pre-clinical and clinical trials; our ability to raise additional funds; uncertainties inherent in the development process of our products; changes in regulatory requirements or decisions of regulatory authorities; the size and growth potential of the markets for our products; the results of clinical trials, our ability to protect our intellectual property rights and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward–looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and ZIVO undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward–looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.
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