Health ingredient well received at US trade show

March 23, 2005

NZ wool protein joint health ingredient well received at US trade show

Cynatine™, a joint-health product developed by Wool Equities Limited (New Zealand Stock Exchange: WEL) subsidiary Keratec, has attracted interest from international consumer health producers at the Natural Products Expo West trade show. More than 1500 natural and organic foods, health supplements and personal care manufacturers and distributors exhibited at the show from 18-20 March. It was attended by more than 36,000 industry professionals from 80 countries.

Keratec attracted more than 150 expressions of interest in the product at the show, and several producers are interested in testing Cynatine™ as an active ingredient in consumer joint healthcare products that they are developing.

Cynatine™ is a new joint care product designed as an active ingredient in health supplements to maintain healthy joints and fight the cartilage ageing process. It combines four potent joint health and anti-oxidant properties into a single premium ingredient extracted from pure New Zealand wool. It is a natural, non-allergenic alternative to many other consumer health ingredients, including glucosamine and chondroitin, and requires no undesirable stabilizers such as sulphate or HCl. Cynatine™ also provides full-strength biochemical interventions, unlike many alternatives in this market.

Cynatine™ addresses joint-health problems stemming from activities such as sports degeneration and the wear and tear of ageing.

Keratec's Vice President of Research and Development, Dr. Rob Kelly, said the global marketplace for nutraceutical products was evolving towards a stronger emphasis on products based on a strong scientific foundation.

"Keratec's development and processes stem from extremely innovative science and Cynatine™ has the ability to make a strong impact in the global nutraceuticals industry," he said.

Keratec Chief Executive Bruce Foulds said Cynatine™ would establish the company's presence in the consumer health market. Keratec had already made inroads into the personal care market with products such as keratin-based ingredients for hair care and skin care formulations. The recent attention to the potential side effects of COX-2 inhibiting drugs, which target pain relief, has increased the market's interest in and demand for products that improve joint-health, particularly those based on active ingredients from natural sources.

"With Cynatine™, we have a patent-protected active ingredient derived from natural pure New Zealand wool - a new offering which we believe will create considerable interest in the market."

ENDS

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