Ergothioneine concentrates in tissues and organs that undergo the most oxidative stress in humans, yet ergothioneine must be ingested in humans because the body does not produce it. Oxis has developed a synthetic source that matches the natural ergothioneine used as an antioxidant in humans. Oxis has 15 patents, either issued or patent applications filed, within the US and around the world on its proprietary manufacturing process.
In the first instance the company plans to launch ergothioneine as a treatment for many age-related diseases ranging from Alzheimer’s to cancer. Following this, Oxis hopes to explore alternative formulations that will allow patients to utilize ergothioneine in products designed for a variety of diseases, including dermal protectants in sunscreens and protective cosmetics, and topical ophthalmic preparations to replenish the loss of antioxidants experienced during cataract development.
Oxis has experienced a significant rise in its revenues; $631,000 for the first quarter of 2005, an increase over $567,000 compared to the first quarter of 2004. The company’s earnings have also improved with net losses and the cost of sales down, due mainly to a more fully utilized manufacturing operation.
The company has also been assisted by a publication in Science, a journal covering research from Washington University demonstrating the powerfully positive effects of antioxidants in rodent models. The study found that mice with a higher level of antioxidants had healthier heart tissue than normal mice. This new study provided some of the most compelling evidence that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in age-related diseases.
The antioxidant properties of ergothioneine appear to be related to at least four molecular activities: the ability to scavenge directly reactive oxygen species; to chelate various divalent metallic cations (positively charged ions); to activate antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx) and MnSOD and to inhibit superoxide-generating enzymes such as NADPH-Cytochrome c reductase; and to affect the oxidation of various hemoproteins such as hemoglobin and myoglobin.