RLM Realm Thera.

TIDMPURI

PuriCore Plc

03 October 2012

PuriCore plc

("PuriCore" or the "Company")

3(rd) October 2012

Positive Results from ActiVita(TM) Agriculture Research Collaboration

with Oxford University

Potential as broad-spectrum agricultural fungicide demonstrated

PuriCore(LSE: PURI), the water-based clean technology company, announces further positive results from the testing and analysis of its ActiVita Agriculture Solution, carried out in conjunction with The University of Oxford Department of Plant Sciences.

ActiVita is being developed as a safe and highly effective fungicidal seed, plant, and harvest protection agent for major crops including rice, corn, and potatoes. Test results continue to showthat ActiVita is a potent broad-spectrum antifungal agent that is capable of successfully inhibiting spore germination of the rice blast fungus and several other notable crop pathogenic fungi and oomycete diseases (such as potato blight) without causing harm to the plants and seeds at antifungal concentrations. In addition, ActiVita has been shown to be a potent cell disruptant, and further study is underway to describe the mode of action more accurately.

The annual fungicide market is valued at approximately $12 billion worldwide,(1) yet substantial crop loss due to pathogen infestation continues to be a major global issue with an estimated loss in the range of $100 billion of major crops every year. PuriCore now plans to enter discussions with potential partners to commercialise ActiVita to address the growing demand for a safe and effective fungicide for seeds and crops.

Michael Ashton, Executive Chairman of PuriCore, said:

"As the demand for crop yields rises in line with increasing global population, protecting our food crops from disease is a growing challenge. Research carried out with Oxford University shows that ActiVita is an effective anti-fungal and therefore has the potential significantly to improve plant productivity. ActiVita is an important part of PuriCore's strategy to address food safety throughout the entire supply chain, going far beyond the supermarket and now into seeds and crops."

Sarah Gurr, PhD, Professor of Molecular Plant Pathology, at The University of Oxford,a specialist in crop disease, plant pathogenic fungi, and fungal biotechnology, who leads the ongoing research into the effectiveness of ActiVita Solution and is co-author of a recent article in the journal Nature on fungal threats,(2) commented:

"Major food crops around the world are challenged by fungi, the most devastating agents of plant disease, and are threatened by the emergence of new aggressive strains. Our research shows that ActiVita Solution is a potent broad spectrum anti-fungal that prevents spore germination and fungal development and that shows little phytotoxicity at such antifungal concentrations. This chemistry could revolutionise pre- and post-harvest protection of food from fungi."

Earlier this year, PuriCore announced the award of GBP500,000 by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) in a research grant to The University of Oxford to study PuriCore's ActiVita Agricultural Solution, a proprietary, environmentally safe fungicidal solution formulated for agricultural applications. The three-year grant will fund research focused on exploring the mode of action of the ActiVita solution on fungi that devastate major food crops.

-Ends-

About PuriCore

PuriCore plc (LSE: PURI) is a water-based clean technology company focused on developing and commercialising proprietary solutions that protect people from the spread of infectious pathogens without causing harm to human health or the environment. The Company's products are used in a broad range of markets that depend upon effective pathogen control including MRSA, e.Coli, and C. difficile. PuriCore is the leading full provider of all products and services required for a safe, efficient, and compliant endoscope decontamination to protect patients in UK hospitals. The Company's products are the de facto standard for food safety in leading US supermarket chains. PuriCore also offers a breakthrough wound therapy solution to treat chronic and acute wounds including diabetic ulcers and burns. PuriCore is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with operations in Stafford and Clevedon, UK. To receive additional information on PuriCore, visit www.puricore.com, which does not form part of this press release.

Enquiries:

 
 UK                         US 
 FTI Consulting             Sage Strategic Marketing 
 Susan Stuart               Jennifer Guinan 
 Victoria Foster Mitchell   +1 610.410.8111 
 +44 (0) 20 7831 3113 
 

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates, and projections about its industry; its beliefs; and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions shareholders and prospective shareholders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.

References:

(1) Cropnosis, 2007.

(2) Fisher, Henk, Briggs, Brownstein, Madoff, McCraw, and Gurr, "Emerging fungal threats to animal, plant and ecosystem health," Nature, 484: April 12, 2012.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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