Boston Therapeutics Ramps Up Sugardown®, Expands Board of Directors

Pharmaceutical company Boston Therapeutics (BTHE-OTC) announced this week the launch of a new commercial phase for the company's sugardown® dietary supplement to help control glucose levels. Sugardown® is presently sold over-the-counter as a non-systemic, chewable dietary supplement taken prior to meals to support healthy blood sugar and help moderate post-meal blood glucose. The product works in the gastrointestinal tract to reduce the sharp spikes in blood sugar associated with eating carbohydrate foods. Sugardown® has previously been sold over the Internet in the U.S. and by distribution partners in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and South Korea.

In May 2014, Boston Therapeutics entered into an agreement with Benchworks SD, LLC. Benchworks, based in Maryland, is a full-service marketing and branding agency that has previously worked with customers including Pfizer Inc., Shire Pharmaceuticals, Noven Therapeutics, Coca-Cola, Aramark, CBRE, the islands of the Bahamas, the University of Maryland University College, and on a wide variety of other branding and product launch campaigns for medications, energy drinks, and so on. Boston Therapeutics’ agreement with Benchworks is targeted at increasing brand awareness and sales of sugardown® through a three-pronged approach: (1) increase awareness among people who may be at risk of developing diabetes and these patients’ caregivers; (2) create a bond with healthcare educators and nutritionists who would recommend sugardown® for their patients; and (3) strengthen the medical profile of sugardown® by continuing to build on new data from additional clinical trial results and new scientific findings.

The relationship with Benchworks reached a milestone at the end of September 2014, when Boston Therapeutics announced the initial commercialization effort for sugardown®, which is based on a multichannel strategy including the key components listed below.

• A multistate partnership with 83bar-Biophysical Prediabetes centers that will introduce sugardown® to thousands of people managing their blood glucose levels
  
  
• The launch of a sugardown® e-commerce platform that is optimized to drive significant revenue from the 86 million people managing their blood glucose levels in the United States
  
  
• An active social media strategy designed to foster awareness of sugardown®
  
  
• Updated packaging and sophisticated point-of-sale materials that will enhance consumer adoption for the launch of retail distribution slated to begin in Q1 2015 
  
  
• Increase awareness of sugardown® and the importance of maintaining healthy blood sugar levels throughout the day via a professionally executed public relations campaign

Further Product Development

In addition to ramping up commercialization of sugardown®, Boston Therapeutics is continuing development of two development-stage pharmaceutical candidates: (1) BTI-320, a Phase II, non-systemic, non-toxic, carbohydrate-based tablet being evaluated as a therapy for Type 2 diabetes in patients currently taking metformin; and (2) Ipoxyn (and a veterinary analog of Ipoxyn, called OxyFex), which is a carbohydrate-based intravenous solution in development to treat hypoxic conditions caused by a lack of oxygen to living tissue, such as lower-limb ischemia stemming from severe diabetes.

Boston Therapeutics Appoints Highly Qualified Directors

In October 2014, the company reported that it had expand the size of its Board from 7 to 8 directors and appointed Jan Brinkman and Alan M. Hoberman as directors to fill the vacancy created by the expansion of the Board and a vacancy previously created by the resignation of a director. Dr. Brinkman has served as a member of the Biotechnology Business Strategies Committee with ABN-Amro Bank N.V. in London, New York, and Hong Kong, and is an advisor to the Mayo Foundation Comprehensive Cancer Program. Dr. Hoberman is President and CEO of Argus International, Inc., overseeing a staff of scientists and other professionals who provide consulting services for industry, government agencies, law firms and other organizations both in the U.S. and internationally.