• Ceapro Inc (TSXV:CZO) has gained approval from Health Canada to expand the inclusion criteria of one of its studies.
  • The study will evaluate beta glucan as an add-on therapy for people with hyperlipidemia who are already using cholesterol-lowering drugs.
  • The criteria expansion will allow the study to also test oat beta glucan as a stand-alone therapy.
  • A team led by Dr Jean-Claude Tardif will conduct the study at the Montreal Heart Institute.
  • Ceapro’s share price is up 1.43 per cent, with shares trading at $0.36 apiece.

Biotechnology company Ceapro Inc (CZO) has recently gained approval to expand the inclusion criteria of an important cholesterol-related study.

The study will test how beta glucan works as a secondary therapy for people who use cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) to treat their hyperlipidemia.

The approved criteria expansion will not affect the number of people in the study. However, it will allow the study to evaluate how beta glucan acts as a stand-alone therapy.

A team led by Dr Jean-Claude Tardif will conduct the study at the Montreal Heart Institute. The study will run for approximately 18 to 24 months.

Ceapro President and CEO, Gilles Gagnon, welcomed the approval. “The protocol expansion of this important clinical study represents what we believe is a game-changing opportunity to validate the well-known health benefits of beta glucan.”

“The use of beta glucan as a potential lipid lowering agent is met with marked interest in the patient population. Adjusting the inclusion criteria of the study has both scientific and clinical value.”

Dr Tardif also spoke with excitement about the decision to expand the study. “Beta glucan is a promising approach as an additional potential therapy to help lower plasma cholesterol in patients with hyperlipidemia. We are very pleased to be adding an extension to this study, to evaluate the potential of beta glucan as a stand-alone treatment.”

Ceapro’s share price is up 1.43 per cent, with shares trading at $0.36 apiece.

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