Under the terms of the agreement, Frutarom USA will be responsible for all sales and marketing, warehousing and distribution activities in North America, while BLIS Technologies remains focused on further product development efforts and activities with its key research partner, The University of Otago (New Zealand).

BLIS K12 is a probiotic specifically designed to protect the entire oral cavity, including the throat, mouth gums and teeth, and under certain circumstances, it has even been shown to protect the nasal sinus from infection. BLIS K12 will produce a bacteriocin when it is under threat from a potential pathogen. This makes BLIS K12 hundreds of times more effective than a traditional antiseptic throat lozenge, BLIS notes.   

Laurent Leduc, vice president of the USA Health Division of Frutarom USA, said, “This is a significant opportunity for us to expand our business around a product with both an exceptional safety profile and excellent record of clinical validation for its effectiveness in preventing many common infections of the upper airways and oral cavity.”

“The great thing about BLIS K12,” Leduc added, “is that it has no peers in the market. This product is unique and with the patents around it, it will likely remain that way for a long time”     

Barry Richardson, chief executive of BLIS Technologies Ltd., also indicated that he was very happy with the agreement between BLIS Technologies and Frutarom, USA. Richardson said, “Frutarom is a very proactive company and have already secured orders for BLIS K12, even before the ink was dry.”  “Frutarom USA is very important to us because it represents further expansion of our commercial development for BLIS Technologies, and it builds on our existing research relationships with Nestle Nutrition in Switzerland.

From the October 27, 2008, Prepared Foods e-Flash