Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Obtains New Patent
06-Oct-2011
|
Source :
|
Visits : 8071
LAVAL, QUEBEC - Neptune Technologies and Bioressources Inc. announces that the US Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has granted Neptune a new patent covering omega-3 phospholipids comprising polyunsaturated fatty acids, one of the main bioactive ingredients in all recognized Krill Oils. The patent is granted for the US market and is valid until 2025.
A press release by the company stated that Neptune’s recently issued US patent (US No. 8,030,348) covers, regardless of the extraction process, novel omega-3 fatty acid phospholipid compositions suitable for human consumption, synthetic and/or natural, including compositions extracted from marine and aquatic biomasses. The 8,030,348 patent protects Neptune Krill Oil (NKO®) and also covers amongst others, oils and powders extracted from krill, containing marine phospholipids bonded to EPA and/or DHA, distributed and/or sold in the US market.
“The US patent confirms Neptune’s position as the pioneer in the marine oil industry, especially in the krill oil business” stated Neptune’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Tina Sampalis. “This patent also benefits our majority-owned subsidiaries Acasti Pharma and NeuroBioPharm as it protects the platform for our pharmaceutical products. The issuance of this patent expands Neptune’s leadership role in the phospholipid-based nutraceutical and pharmaceutical markets and represents a significant milestone by further strengthening the company's intellectual property portfolio.” she added.
Henri Harland, Neptune’s President and Chief Executive Officer, also indicated that:
• Intellectual property is a very important and strategic asset for Neptune and our three distinct families of patents and pending applications in more than 30 countries demonstrate that.
• Neptune has retained the services of one of the leading lawyer firms to diligently prepare the files to obtain a solid and robust patent, which was achieved.
• We expect a strong reaction from the competition as this new patent implies that they will not be authorized to distribute and/or sell any Krill Oil with the above mentioned composition in the US, unless they reach an agreement with Neptune.
He concluded that “it is also the management’s obligation to protect and defend Neptune’s assets, in order to maximize shareholder’s value; we intend to fully enforce our patent against anyone who infringes.”
Neptune is an industry-recognized leader in the innovation, production and formulation of science-based and clinically proven novel phospholipid products for the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical markets.
Acasti Pharma is developing a product portfolio of proprietary novel long-chain omega-3 phospholipids.
NeuroBioPharm is pursuing pharmaceutical neurological applications, and a clinical study for a medical food product with a multinational partner is already initiated.