OptiBiotix Health plc announced its exclusive distributor Nahdi Medical Co has received approval from the Saudi Food and Drug authority for GoFigure shakes and bars containing patented weight management aid SlimBiome®. The Company announced it had signed an exclusive sales and marketing agreement with Nahdi in December 2021 Nahdi owns the largest pharmacy network in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with over 1,100 pharmacy outlets countrywide. Nahdi's online platform, Nahdi Online, is one of the leading e-commerce pharmacy players across the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The SFDA approval originally envisaged for early 2022, is a critical milestone on the way to marketing and selling the GoFigure range of products through the pharmacies of Nahdi in Saudi Arabia. The SFDA approval is of strategic importance to both Nahdi and OptiBiotix as it facilitates the registration processes in the other GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates). As a direct consequence, OptiBiotix has received the first purchase order from Nahdi.

The manufacturing of the range of products has commenced and the launch envisaged for First Quarter 2023 is in full preparation. The initial launch is planned to take place in strategically key locations within Saudi Arabia and through Nahdi's e-commerce platform. GoFigure is OptiBiotix' direct-to-consumer (D2C) range of weight management products formulated with core ingredient SlimBiome®.

The GoFigure range of products consists of powdered meal replacement & beverage products (shakes, smoothies, pancake mixes, etc) and healthy snacking (crisps, puffs, gummies, etc.). SlimBiome® is a patented prebiotic weight management aid used as such or in formulated products in the health & wellness, sports nutrition and weight management categories. SlimBiome®is supported by independent human clinical studies which show it reduces hunger, cravings for sweet and savoury foods and fat intake, and helps people stick to a low calorie diet plan.

Consumers who used SlimBiome® in combination with a calorie restricted diet experience a relief from feeling hungry and have fewer cravings for food, leading to easier and more sustainable dieting and lose on average an additional 2kg of fat per month, improving body composition.