Stevia First Corp. Announces Scientific Collaboration With BioViva Sciences

19 Mar 2015 --- Stevia First Corp., an agricultural biotechnology company based in California's Central Valley growing region and focused on the industrial scale production of stevia, the all-natural zero-calorie sweetener that is rapidly transforming the food and beverage industry, is pleased to advise it has entered into a scientific collaboration with BioViva Sciences in order to advance genetic therapies for alleviation of human diabetes and obesity.

SF Corp's geroprotector development program is geared towards identifying novel genes, drugs, and nutritional products that influence lifespan, and which could have a profound effect on human metabolism. As part of this work, the Company's "AI Scientist" discovery program is analyzing publically-available aging genomics data, then using machine learning algorithms in order to identify key genetic regulators of disease. From this information, the Company is then able to identify food, nutritional, and pharmaceutical interventions that influence these genetic pathways and that may be useful for treatment or prevention of diabetes and obesity.

BioViva is developing novel gene therapy protocols where single-dose administrations can have lasting and potentially life-long benefits on human health. BioViva has a portfolio of patented gene therapy products including ones related to heart disease and neurological disorders. As part of the scientific collaboration, SF Corp's team will provide BioViva with lists of novel genes and gene combinations believed to be upstream regulators of disease and that will be evaluated as candidate gene therapies for diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic disorders.

"BioViva Sciences's team is at the vanguard of clinical testing for innovative AAV gene therapies," says Robert Brooke, CEO of SF Corp. "Through this collaboration we are excited to share our recent findings, and to validate the use of our technology for identifying such a lucrative and beneficial medical intervention."

Liz Parrish, BioViva's CEO, adds that "SF Corp.'s approach to developing food and nutritional products based upon genetic pathways is quite unique and rigorous. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them and to advance our development program."