Pharmax: Scientific leader

Pharmax:  
Scientific leader
Industry-leading biospecialty products now available in Canada

By: Philip Rouchotas, MSc, ND
Issue: April/May 2011

Pharmax is a leading-edge, comprehensive line of 150+ professional grade nutraceuticals encompassing: probiotics, fatty acids, condition-specific combination formulas, plant antimicrobials, digestive enzymes, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Clinically effective and practical, the Pharmax brand is designed to support practitioners with evidence-based natural supplements at therapeutic doses, providing therapeutic tools to address immediate intensive support while supplementing long-term preventative maintenance.

Established in the US over 15 years ago, Pharmax is now available in Canada. The introductory product offering includes the highly successful Four Pillars (convenient blister pack strips that include capsules of: fish oil, probiotics, multivitamins and an antioxidant blend) as well as other products to help support: inflammation, joint health, immune health, bone health, and overall general health. Pharmax is part of a larger product portfolio of best-in-class brands offered by Seroyal – a natural pharmaceutical company dedicated for over 26 years to assisting healthcare practitioners restore, rebuild and maintain patient health.

Research-driven and clinically proven

The Pharmax brand is built upon a research-driven, evidence-based scientific foundation. A distinguished advisory team and group of partners, including independent researchers at academic institutions, medical schools and hospitals, help create unique, efficacious and stable natural products for the Pharmax brand. With over 70 peer reviewed and PubMed listed publications, ranging from preclinical investigations, review papers, and controlled human clinical trials, the Pharmax brand reflects the latest evidence-based research in order to support practitioner-aligned objectives.

Probiotic and omega-3 expertise

Seroyal and Dr. Nigel Plummer, founder of the Pharmax brand, have worked extensively together for the past 15 years. Dr. Plummer has a formidable reputation in basic and clinical research, combined with his expertise in the R&D and manufacturing of   nutraceuticals, provides Seroyal with an outstanding portfolio of product innovation and continuing education programs.

With a doctorate in microbial physiology, Dr. Plummer has worked at Pfizer in antibiotic research and development. His research on the use of normal flora in the prevention and treatment of genito-urinary candidiasis has won him numerous awards. Dr. Plummer continues his solid commitment to research throughout his career in collaboration with research institutes and universities within the UK and Europe, developing an extensive knowledge specializing in probiotics, omega-3’s and natural antimicrobials. Dr. Plummer lectures extensively in North America and the UK/Europe and has developed an interest in the concept of fetal disease programming, the controlling factors involved and the potential to influence programmed events as a means of prevention of chronic disease development.

Proven probiotic efficacy in human trials

Pharmax probiotic therapies contain proprietary non-pathogenic human-sourced microflora bacterial strains. These unique strains have strong epithelial adherence and a naturally high tolerance to stomach acid. With a strain bank of over 600 bacteria, a core consortium of strains has been clinically proven in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials at 25 billion CFU† to:

• Reduce symptoms of Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS)  

• Prevent intestinal microflora disruption post antibiotics

• Reduce the incidence of C. difficile associated diarrhea (Pilot study)

New landmark probitoic trial includes newborns

A recently completed 6 year trial, conducted in and with the expressed consent and permission of the UK government, focused on the prevention of infant atopy. In brief, 450 newborn babies were randomized to placebo or the Pharmax core probiotic consortium (containing proprietary lactobaccili and bifidobacterium species) from birth until six months of age. Primary outcomes include atopic sensitization (broad spectrum skin prick allergen test) and development of atopic eczema at two years of age. While the formal report is eagerly being awaited,  interim results suggest an approximate 50% reduction in the prevalence of both major outcomes. More information is expected upon the release date of the formal report later this year.

Ongoing trials:

• The role of human microflora in the incidence and duration of upper and lower respiratory infections in preschool children.

Ongoing research:

• Immunomodulatory effects of probiotics on neonatal immune function (PhD, Swansea University)

• Molecular genetic characterisation of probiotic bacteria (PhD, Cardiff University)

• Effect of probiotics on mood and cognition (PhD, Cardiff University)

• Stochastic biomodelling of human GI microbial ecosytem and virtual design of probiotics (PhD, Swansea University)

Omega-3 science leader

Pharmax refined omega-3 fish oils are amongst the most highly regarded by research and health care professionals. The latest research and manufacturing innovations have driven ground-breaking achievements for the Pharmax brand in this category. The brand helped pioneer   the WisdOM-3™ emulsification process - proven in human clinical trials to double lipid bioavailability, while improving overall fish oil taste and increases patient compliance. The Pharmax brand also utilizes the NEO-3™ and CRYO-3 natural EPA and DHA enrichment processes, which also extract contaminants to virtually undetectable levels including: heavy metals (mercury, lead); pesticides; various chlorinated phenolic products (PCBs); dioxins and furans; PCDDs and PDCFs.

Ongoing trials:

• The role of fatty acids in infant cognitive development; and inflammation and immune support.

Ongoing research:

• Nutritional Supplements for Alzheimer’s disease and osteoarthritis (KTP, Cardiff University)