Vancouver, British Columbia, October 21, 2019 — Burcon NutraScience Corporation (TSX: BU), a global technology leader in the development of plant-based proteins, is pleased to announce today that the US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has issued a GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) no-objection letter for Peazazz® and Peazac® pea proteins. The “Letter of No Objection” is issued by the US FDA confirming that they do not question the basis for the GRAS self-affirmation notification submitted by Burcon in June 2018.
“We are pleased to have obtained GRAS-notified status for our novel pea proteins,” said Johann F. Tergesen, Burcon’s president and chief executive officer, adding, “Receipt of a no-objection letter for Peazazz and Peazac is a significant commercial milestone and is important for the acceptance and use of these proteins by global food and beverage companies.”
Through the GRAS notification program, companies voluntarily submit their self-affirmation documentation dossier, substantiated by extensive research and independent, qualified subject matter expert review, that a specific ingredient is Generally Recognized As Safe. The “Letter of No Objection” or “no questions letter” means that the US FDA has reviewed all of the scientific data submitted by Burcon and has no questions or concerns regarding safety.
Peazazz® pea protein
Peazazz® is a uniquely soluble, clean and neutral-tasting pea protein that is perfect for plant-based beverage applications such as ready-to-drink protein shakes, non-dairy alternatives, and ready-to-mix protein powders. Through Burcon’s proprietary extraction and purification processes, this pea protein tastes and functions unlike any other pea protein on the market. Peazazz® has clean flavour characteristics and excellent solubility that allow for ease of formulation. Peazazz® can give your product a much-needed nutritional boost while staying dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free.
Peazac® pea protein
With a mild flavour, Peazac® pea protein is ideal for applications such as bars, meat analogues, and baked goods. Peazac® can give your products a nutritional boost while staying dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free.
About Burcon NutraScience Corporation
Burcon is a global technology leader in the development of plant-based proteins. The company has developed an extensive portfolio of composition, application, and process patents originating from a core protein extraction and purification technology. Burcon’s family of plant proteins includes Peazazz®, a uniquely soluble and clean-tasting pea protein, Peazac®, a pea protein that is well-suited for meat analogues and baked goods, Puratein®, Supertein® and Nutratein® canola proteins with exceptional functionality and valuable nutritional profiles, and Nutratein-PS™ and Nutratein-TZ™, Burcon’s new pea and canola protein blends that have exceptional functional characteristics, low allergenicity, and a nutritional value exceeding those of standard pea proteins in the market today. Supertein® and Nutratein® canola proteins are marketed by Merit Functional Foods Corporation under the brand names, Puratein® HS and Puratein®-C, respectively, and Nutratein-PS™ pea and canola protein blend as MeritPro™ HS. Burcon’s CLARISOY® soy protein — under license to the Archer Daniels Midland Company — offers clarity and high-quality protein nutrition for low-pH beverage systems, and excellent solubility and exceptionally clean flavour at any pH. For more information about the company, visit www.burcon.ca.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy of the content of the information contained herein. This press release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performances, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements or forward-looking information can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “believe”, “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “could”, “will” and similar references to future periods. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding expectations, intentions and plans contained in this press release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Burcon’s plans and expectations include the actual results of business negotiations, marketing activities, adverse general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes and other risks and factors detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by Burcon with securities regulators and stock exchanges, including in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Burcon’s annual information form dated July 2, 2019 filed with the Canadian securities administrators on www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement or information only speaks as of the date on which it was made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Burcon disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Burcon believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and accordingly, investors should not rely on such statements.
CLARISOY is a trademark of Archer Daniels Midland Company.
Investor Contact:
Paul Lam
Manager, Business Development
Burcon NutraScience Corporation
Tel (604) 733-0896, Toll-free (888) 408-7960
Media Contact:
Steve Campbell, APR
President
Campbell & Company Public Relations
Tel (604) 888-5267