Our propolis is derived from a specific region of Canada which is rich in a particular species of poplar tree, unique to the area and collected by bee farmers from the hives of farmed bees before being refined in our specialist refinery facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Propolis, even in its crude form, has a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities. Its chemical composition is qualitatively and quantitatively variable, depending on geographical origin and regional flora with the plant sources being the main determinant of its chemical composition. As a consequence of its biological properties due to the unique regional flora of Manitoba, propolis has the potential to meet unmet needs in cosmetics, medicines and medical device uses which have thus far not been investigated to their full potential.

The extraction process used today was first developed and perfected by Dr Zenon Sosnowski, who spent several decades of his life researching the potential human benefits of propolis and whose work led to the two clinical trials which validated the use of refined propolis across cosmetics, pharmaceutical applications and in natural health products.

Generic refined propolis, usually produced through an aqueous purification process, from various regions, including China and South America, is often used in cosmetic products as a preservative and is

widely used as an ingredient in throat sprays, mouth washes, shampoos, soaps and body cleansers, mainly for its soothing and moisturising properties.

Our highest grade of refined propolis, produced through an ethanolic based purification process (cold filtered), possesses particularly potent antimicrobial properties.

This is due to its chemical composition and range of phenolic constituents along with the presence of a unique sub-set of flavonoids known as dihydrochalcones, which are considered to be characteristic only in the bud exudates of the regionally found poplar tree varieties of Manitoba, giving our refined propolis extracts their unique pharmacological properties and which make it ideal for use as a preservative or sterilant and an ideal substitute to parabens in natural treatments and therapeutics.

We currently produce three grades of propolis extract to cGMP standards for different applications including: Propolis ACF^®, Propolis Complex B^® and Propolis Complex C^®.

We will soon begin formulation and clinical evaluation for new products which we believe will break new ground in the field of natural health.

The Herstat® brand is positioned exclusively within the herpes space and represents a range of products designed to treat and/or mitigate the symptoms and effects of the herpes simplex virus, HSV-1 and HSV-2 in patients.

Herpes is a major global health problem. Effective treatments offering meaningfully improved outcomes for patients yield significant revenues.

The World Health Organisation estimates that 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 (67%) are infected with HSV-1 globally. An estimated 491 million people aged 15–49 (13%) worldwide is infected with herpes simplex HSV-2.

Approximately 60% of those infected with HSV will remain asymptomatic throughout their lifetime and in these subjects the virus lies virtually dormant. However, for those who do manifest symptoms, it can cause painful blisters, swelling and ulcers at the site of infection. Stigmatisation and embarrassment are further discernible side-effects.

Symptoms generally recur over many years in sufferers and medication does not cure or eradicate the underlying virus completely. During the period between episodes the virus retreats into the central nervous system within the cluster of nerves called the ganglia at top and bottom of the spine. Outbreaks occur when the body’s immune system is compromised and can be triggered by anything from sunburn to long-haul travel and menstruation in women. In immunocompromised patients, herpes usually presents more severe symptoms and more frequent recurrences.

Herstat® products fall under various regulatory frameworks in the territories within which they are sold, with the products aimed at cold sore (HSV-1) and genital herpes (HSV-2) sufferers. All Herstat® products contain one of our unique purified propolis extracts. Herstat® is sold in six country territories worldwide and we currently plan to increase this to 12 territories in the near term, and this falls in line with our strategic objective to establish Herstat® as the leading global brand in the herpes space.

Dr Zenon Sosnowski MSc, PhD was a Polish Associate Professor who spent over 35 years of his life researching bee propolis and its potential for use in human health applications. He led two noteworthy clinical trials involving propolis extracts, derived from crude Manitoban bee propolis. Dr Sosnowski, a haematologist, who lectured medicine at St Boniface University Hospital in Manitoba, was responsible for formulating a range of therapeutic medications designed to treat a variety of conditions. He carried out years of important, early research into the effects of formulations containing purified Manitoban bee propolis in MRSA infected wounds. But perhaps most crucially he perfected complex techniques using an ethanolic, cold filtration and extraction process to maximise and enhance the net concentration of

phenolic content (particularly flavonoids, flavones, stilbenes, lignans and proanthocyanins) in purified propolis, extracted from crude material harvested from beehives.

A range of therapeutic propolis based products now bears Dr Sosnowski’s name and we aim to expand this product line and accumulate market share within various territories across the globe. This will include the advancement of the pioneering research work carried out by Dr Sosnowski in developing innovative post-operative surgical wound dressings to combat MRSA infections and assist healing, and to develop new treatments for pressure sores and diabetic leg ulcers.