Cevena Bioproducts Inc. Appoints Richard Smith to Board
Release Date: December 5, 2005
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA – Kimmo Lucas, President and CEO of Cevena Bioproducts Inc. has announced the appointment of Richard (Rick) Smith as Chairman of its Board of Directors. Cevena Bioproducts manufactures Viscofiber®, the highest viscosity oat and barley-derived beta glucan in the nutraceuticals market
Smith currently serves as President and CEO of Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company. Dow AgroSciences is focused on improving human nutrition in Canada through the manufacture of healthier products, targeting the elimination of trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils in the human diet.
Smith has also held senior management positions in the life sciences area, including human pharmaceuticals, animal health and plant sciences with Eli Lilly and Company, as well as in several commercialization initiatives focusing on plant biotechnology. He is currently Chairman of the Board of SemBioSys Genetics Inc. (symbol SBS on TSX), a biotechnology company formed in partnership with the University of Calgary in 1996, and is also an independent director of Commercial Solutions Inc. (symbol CSA on TSX.V).
In addition, Smith is also the founding chairman of Bio Products Canada Inc., and is a member of the Board and the Executive Committee’s of BIOTECanada, BioAlberta, CropLife Canada and the Agricultural Warehousing Standards Association. He received his B.Sc. in Applied Chemistry in 1971 and his M.Sc. in Biochemistry in 1972 from the University of Waterloo.
“We are delighted to welcome such a high caliber individual as Rick to our Board. His experience will help guide our mission to improve the lives of millions of people. We look forward to working with him to continue the exiting commercialization of our flagship product, Viscofiber®, and to achieve our mission,” comments Lucas.
About Cevena Bioproducts Inc.
Technically advanced grain-based ingredients for nutritional products are the focus of Cevena Bioproducts, headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The company’s core mission is to improve human health and well-being through the research, technology and marketing of scientifically proven and effective nutraceutical products. Its lead product Viscofiber®, a high ß-glucan concentrate, is derived from oats and barley via a patented fractionation process that yields the richest, highest quality beta-glucan ingredient on the market today. Viscofiber® is in clinical trials to prove its efficacy in addressing healthy cholesterol levels and maintaining a healthy glycemic response for heart health-conscious consumers. Further clinical research will illuminate its efficacy for gastrointestinal health and satiety.