15 August 2016 – Evolva (SIX: EVE) announces that it has launched a short animated video that highlights the potential for the company’s nootkatone product in development to one day play a role in the fight against Lyme disease, as well as Zika, chikungunya, dengue and West Nile viruses. The video can be viewed on the Evolva website by clicking on this link. Among others, it shows the effect of our nootkatone on ticks, observed during testing.

Nootkatone is not oily and has a pleasant citrus scent. It can be extracted in minute quantities from the skin of grapefruit or the bark of the Alaska yellow cedar (also known as the Nootka cypress). It can also be produced on an industrial scale from brewing via yeast fermentation. Evolva and the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) are partners in the co-development of insect control products containing nootkatone based on Evolva fermentation technology.

Evolva is currently performing all necessary safety and efficacy studies to get nootkatone approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initially as a repellent against the blacklegged tick, mosquitos and other target insects in the USA. Evolva is also investigating other geographies.

Evolva holds the exclusive worldwide rights to advance nootkatone for the control of disease vectors such as ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, flies, lice, bed bugs and other biting insects. In both laboratory and field studies, a variety of formulations of nootkatone have demonstrated excellent activity against biting and nuisance pests, notably the ticks that are responsible for spreading Lyme disease, but also mosquitoes, head lice, bed bugs, and other biting insects.

Nootkatone appears to have a mode of action distinct from that of currently used pesticides and therefore could potentially be valuable for mitigating pesticide resistance in mosquito vectors.

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About Evolva

Evolva is a pioneer and global leader in sustainable, fermentation-based approaches to ingredients for health, wellness and nutrition. Evolva’s products include stevia, resveratrol, vanillin, nootkatone and saffron. As well as developing its own proprietary ingredients, Evolva also deploys its technology for partners, providing them with a competitive edge and sharing in the returns they make. For more information see www.evolva.com. Questions about our fermentation approach? Have a look at our video.

About nootkatone

Nootkatone is a citrus ingredient that is characteristically associated with grapefruit. It can be extracted in minute quantities from the skin of grapefruit or the bark of the Alaska yellow cedar (also known as the Nootka cypress), or produced on an industrial scale from brewing via yeast fermentation. Nootkatone is being tested against a variety of biting and nuisance pests, notably the ticks that are responsible for spreading Lyme disease, but also the mosquitoes contributing to the spread of Zika, chikungunya, dengue and West Nile viruses, as well as head lice, bed bugs, and other biting insects.

About Lyme disease and Zika virus

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

Zika virus disease (Zika) is a disease caused by Zika virus that is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Because the symptoms of Zika are similar to those of many other diseases, many cases may not have been recognized. In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil and on Feb 1, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Local transmission has been reported in many other countries and territories. Zika virus likely will continue to spread to new areas.

About the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC is the nation's health protection agency, working 24/7 to protect America from health and safety threats, both foreign and domestic. CDC increases the health security of the US.

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This press release contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like believe, assume, expect or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.