THREE international scientists have been appointed to lend their expertise to a York company looking to develop new compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes.

OptiBiotix, based in the Innovation Centre at York Science Park, has appointed the trio to its Scientific Advisory Group (SAG), which brings together world renowned scientists with expertise in satiation, the human microbiome and novel food ingredients.

Formed in March 2012, OptiBiotix works to develop compounds which modify the human microbiome to prevent and manage human disease.

Its aim is to discover and develop microbial strains which can be used as food ingredients or supplements for the prevention and management of human metabolic diseases, such as obesity, cholesterol and lipid distribution and diabetes.

The three new members of its SAG are professor Patrice D. Cani, a research associate at the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique in Belgium, professor Jens Walter, an associate professor at the Campus Alberta Innovation Programme and chairwoman for Nutrition, Microbes and Gastrointestinal Health at the University of Alberta in Canada, and Steven Morrison, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry professional, with more than 23 years' experience in small, medium and large companies directing global drug development programmes and as part of international project teams.

Stephen O'Hara, OptiBiotix's chief executive, said: "I am delighted to welcome these three new appointments to our Scientific Advisory Group.

"The addition of Prof Cani and Prof Walter's extends our global network of contacts and expertise into Europe and North America.

"OptiBiotix Health will continue to extend our global reach in this field to bring better science and better health to all."

The three additional new SAG members bring the group's total to six, joining professor Glen Gibson, professor Jason Halford, and professor Bob Rastall.

The SAG will continue to work with oOPiBiotix, which has established a pipeline of microbiome modulators that can impact on lipid and cholesterol management, energy harvest and appetite suppression.

The development pipeline is fuelled by the business's OptiScreen and OptiBiotic platform technologies designed to identify metabolic pathways and compounds that impact on human physiology and bring potential health benefits. These platforms are applicable across a wider range of other human diseases.