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(Sharecast News) - OptiBiotix Health announced the start of a clinical study with Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on Tuesday, to assess whether its 'WellBiome' prebiotic could improve cardiac surgery outcomes and deliver potential cost savings for the NHS.
The AIM-traded life sciences group said the double-blind, placebo-controlled study would enrol up to 60 patients and evaluate the impact of six weeks of pre-operative supplementation with WellBiome on time spent in intensive care, overall length of hospital stay and the incidence of post-operative complications.
It said the trial would also include a cost savings analysis to determine whether prebiotic use could reduce healthcare expenditure and inform future NHS practice.
OptiBiotix said previous studies suggested that reduced microbial diversity and abundance following surgery could increase hospital stays, and that prebiotics which enhance microbial diversity and exert systemic anti-inflammatory effects could improve surgical outcomes.
WellBiome is a patented mineral-enriched prebiotic fibre complex developed with UK universities, designed to enhance gut microbiome diversity more effectively than single prebiotic fibres.
The company said the product carries approved on-pack health claims in Europe and the US relating to gut health, mineral absorption, muscle and cardiovascular function, psychological function and reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
"This NHS study by Hull University Hospitals Trust has been designed to evaluate the potential of taking WellBiome as a preoperative supplement on cardiac surgery patients on the length of time patients spend in ICU, length of hospital stay, the impact on post operative complications, and potential NHS cost savings," said chief executive Stephen O'Hara.
"If successful it could lead to WellBiome becoming the standard of care for NHS patients undergoing surgery."
The study formed part of the group's strategy to expand the clinical validation and commercial application of its microbiome-focused products in growing global gut health markets.
At 1227 GMT, shares in OptiBiotix Health were up 3.66% at 6.48p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
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