Second Human Study Planned for LipoSan Ultra; Trial Will Expand on Efficacy Proven in First Round of Research.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 2003

Vanson HaloSource today announced it is embarking on a real-world trial to further support the efficacy of LipoSan Ultra, a chitosan-based, Ephedra-free weight management product.

The study is designed to expand on peer-reviewed, published research conducted in 2001, which demonstrated significant weight loss for participants taking LipoSan Ultra compared to a group taking a placebo.

"Our consumers and industry professionals already trust LipoSan Ultra as a scientifically proven, simple and safe way to control weight when used with a proper diet and exercise program," said Everett Nichols, vice president of research and development at Vanson HaloSource. "With others in the marketplace making dubious advertising claims and selling harmful products, it's even more critical that we strengthen trust in LipoSan Ultra with rigorous scientific research, and provide solid data to our supplement manufacturers and other marketing partners."

The double-blind, placebo-controlled human weight loss study is scheduled to begin the second quarter of 2003, with results published later in the year. The trial will be conducted by a well-respected independent research organization with years of experience in the dietary supplement industry.

Research has shown that LipoSan Ultra's patented technology makes it superior to other chitosan products, most of which are commodity-grade and demonstrate little or no efficacy in human studies. A real-world, double-blind, placebo-controlled human weight loss study published in 2001 in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association (JANA) shows LipoSan Ultra's effectiveness at facilitating weight loss and reducing body fat. For eight weeks, researchers monitored 59 women who maintained their traditional eating habits and activity levels without any artificial calorie restrictions or forced exercise programs.

Results showed that the women taking LipoSan Ultra weighed an average of five and a half pounds less than the group taking a placebo. In addition, the LipoSan Ultra test group also experienced decreased mean weight and body mass index (BMI), while mean weight, BMI and percent body fat of the women taking a placebo increased.

In addition to the real-world study, robust laboratory data show that LipoSan Ultra binds three to five times more oil than bulk chitosans. It has also been shown to dissolve in less than five minutes in laboratory studies. This rapid solubility allows consumers to take it immediately before a high-fat meal, rather than an hour before eating as is customary for most chitosan supplements.

Vanson HaloSource representatives will be available to discuss LipoSan Ultra and the upcoming research at SupplySide East, booth Nos. 1318 and 1320, May 5 to 7 at Meadowlands Exhibition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. The company also will exhibit at Vitafoods International, booth No. 4461, May 13 to 15 at Palexpo Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.

About LipoSan Ultra

LipoSan Ultra is completely Ephedra-free. The product is made from chitosan, one of the world's most abundant natural polymers, with patented technology that makes LipoSan Ultra more soluble and effective at binding oil and fat than standard chitosan products. Biodegradable and non-toxic, chitosan is refined from crustacean shells and has unique chemical binding properties that make it useful in a variety of functions, such as binding fats and clarifying liquids. Many domestic and international dietary supplement manufacturers base their weight management products on LipoSan Ultra, which actively binds to lipids, fatty acids and bile salts to potentially help reduce the amount of fat absorbed by the body.

About Vanson HaloSource

Vanson HaloSource is a bioscience company that employs chitin/chitosan- and N-halamine-based technologies to create innovative solutions for a wide range of customer applications. With facilities in Redmond and Raymond, Wash., the company combines expertise from chemists, biochemists and microbiologists to manufacture products and ingredients to serve the water treatment, biomedical, home and personal care markets. It leverages cutting-edge processes to refine chitin and chitosan for water-clarification and various consumer products. With N-halamine technology, the company is developing antimicrobial and antiviral filters, coatings and textiles to purify water and improve sanitation in homes, healthcare settings and a multitude of environments.