A YORK-BASED life sciences business has unveiled initiatives aimed at helping people lose weight.

OptiBiotix Health plc is developing compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and skin care.

The Heslington-based company yesterday announced the successful completion of a trial launch for its Slimbiome ingredients in a range of meal replacement shakes and natural snack bars, and its investment to create a majority owned joint venture with The Healthy Weight Loss Company.

Slimbiome is OptiBiotix’s patented combination of natural ingredients, identified and developed by experts in nutrition and metabolism, which support scientifically substantiated weight loss claims.

Working in partnership with The Healthy Weight Loss Company, OptiBiotix carried out a test launch of Slimbiome in GoFigure snacks and shakes under a non-exclusive UK licence agreement.

Following the success of the test launch, OptiBiotix has completed an investment to acquire 51 per cent of The Healthy Weight Loss Company, saying it saw this as a platform to incubate new technological solutions and develop wider product applications in weight management.

OptiBiotix said GoFigure was a finalist in Best New Health & Nutrition at the 2016 European Natural & Organic Awards and launched online in June.

It said retail listings had been confirmed with first listings on the shelves from August, and wider discussions were taking place. Early web-based sales were outperforming expectations, the products were receiving positive reviews and dieters ‘are finding the real benefits of this diet plan’.

The company said following four weeks of sales the trial had established that the product, the concept, the supply chain and the delivery and customer service met consumers’ expectations.

“The reviews from consumers show strong support for the tastes and flavours, and for the efficacy of the product in managing hunger and reducing calorie intake,” it said.

Stephen O’Hara, chief executive of OptiBiotix, said: “We are really pleased at the results from the trial and early consumer feedback, which provides market evidence for the efficacy of Slimbiome in reducing calorie intake and managing weight loss, which will help leverage discussions with international partners on use of Slimbiome as a supplement and food and dairy ingredient.

“We are delighted to partner with the management of The Healthy Weight Loss Company, who have extensive experience in the weight management sector.

“This partnership creates a platform to take our technology developments to market on an accelerated basis, providing early consumer feedback which will use to develop future product opportunities both nationally and on a global basis.”