LOS ANGELES, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Verde Media
Group Inc. (OTC: VMGI) has formed the Verde Media Biotechnology
Division ("VMBD"). The VMBD division undertakes the
business of developing and producing high value bio-products from
renewable biomass. The focus and criterion is to develop
proprietary microbial technologies with low risk scale-up methods
that employ low cost feedstock.
VMBD will initially focus on Omega-3 oil production. The
market for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA) omega-3 products measured by global consumer spending on
EPA/DHA fortified products was $25.4
billion in 2011 for the six following categories: infant
formula; fortified foods and beverages; nutritional supplements;
pharmaceuticals; clinical nutrition; and pet food, treats and
supplements. The projected market value of EPA/ DHA omega-3
products will reach $34.7 billion in
2016 with a continued accelerated growth rate over the next 5
years.
VMBD has entered into a Letter of Intent ("LOI") to acquire an
initial 20% equity stake of Boston
based Butazyme LLC, for $2.0 million
USD. VMBD has also established qualified terms with
the company to jointly scale the platform technology.
Butazyme specializes in the microbial production of an
alternative source of omega-3 oils, primarily, DHA and EPA. The
global market for omega-3 is expected to reach $34.7 billion in 2016 with a continued
accelerated growth rate over the next 5 years. Butazyme's
microbial platform competes favorably with both traditional and
microbial methods of producing omega-3 oils. Butazyme's competitive
advantages include the ability to convert multiple inexpensive
feedstocks into omega-3 oils, capability of achieving high yields
of DHA oils and the ability to rapidly deploy large scale
production to meet growing demands. Butazyme has already achieved
semi-pilot scale production of omega-3 oils at 1000-liter scale and
is currently scaling to 25,000-liter process.
VMBD will also employ cutting edge microbial technology program
to produce cannabis-based phytocannabinoid products, including
delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The
VMBD team will use the tool of metabolic engineering to transfer
cannabis genetic pathways in microbes representing an alternative
route to produce cannabinoids at an affordable and scalable
manner.
The division will further develop platform technologies for
extracting highly purified forms of cannabis-based phytocannabinoid
products, including D9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol
(CBD). VMBD will develop the derivative and ester forms of THC
for increase potency and their use in different delivery systems,
including sublingual, inhaled dosage forms and blending with food
products.
The wide spread use of cannabis based medicines in diseases such
as multiple sclerosis, chronic pain and many others requires large
scale production of cannabinoids. VMBD and its novel approach will
complement, traditional greenhouse based production of plant
material, for rapid commercialization of active and derivative
chemicals for both medical and recreational use.
The initial core team consists of experienced scientists and
financial experts. Mr. Syed Hussain
Abidi, PhD in biotechnology, from Oxford University, leads the VMBD division as the
Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Abidi has worked in the chemical
engineering school at MIT and
Harvard University and brings 10 years
of experience in organism development and fermentation that will be
critical to developing new technologies. He invented a microbial
process of converting sugars to oil similar to vegetable derived
oil used in the biofuel industry that lead to a series of high
profile patents. Several of his patents have been successfully
licensed to biotech companies both in the US and globally resulting
in significant first round investments.
William Veve, President of Verde
Media Group, Inc. stated, "The VMBD initiative is an extremely
important endeavor for our company and we will continue to focus
our resources on its rapid growth."
About Verde Media Group Inc.
Verde Media Group Inc. is a publicly traded company listed on
the OTC Markets trading under the stock symbol: VMGI. Verde Media
Group Inc. The company is consists of three divisions:
Agency Division- The innovative Agency division services-
public relations, marketing, and transaction functions for
corporate clientele. The agency is rapidly expanding its
business in the Denver, Colorado
market that will become the largest retail marijuana sector
currently legitimized.
BioTech Division- The VMBD division undertakes the business of
developing and producing high value bio-products from renewable
biomass. The focus and criterion is to develop proprietary
microbial technologies with low risk scale-up methods employing low
cost feedstock. VMBD will further develop the derivative and
ester forms of THC for increase potency and their use in different
delivery systems, including sublingual, inhaled dosage forms and
blending with food products.
Entertainment Division- The company operates a managed
media company with production, distribution, development, and
acquisition functions for film and television.
For more information, visit www.verdemediagroup.com, or connect
with the company on Facebook. Twitter- @verdemediagroup
DISCLAIMER: CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
The results described herein cannot be guaranteed. This release
contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such
forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Statements in this news release other than statements of historical
fact are "forward-looking statements" that are based on current
expectations and assumptions.
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SOURCE Verde Media Group Inc.