Nutraceutical ingredient supplier Nutratech filed a patent infringement lawsuit last week against Nutrabiotics Research Labs, a New Jersey-based nutritional supplement manufacturer.
Nutratech alleges that the company is making claims relating to stimulating thermogenesis and weight loss for its generic Citrus aurantium material, which are reserved for customers who purchase Nutratech's Advantra Z material.
Nutrabiotics' marketing of Thermofuel Beta 3, Thermofuel Lite and LipoLean infringe the US patent owned by its developers Zhishin and exclusively licensed to Nutratech, claims the firm.
Zhishin is also the owner of patents for use of Citrus aurantium, bitter orange or citrus extracts for claims such as: stimulating thermogenesis; reducing weight loss; increasing lean muscle mass to total body mass; improving athletic performance; and suppressing appetite.
"Since patents are only as good as the patent holder's or exclusive licensee's willingness to devote resources to defend and protect them, Nutratech has decided to rigorously pursue companies who are infringing on these patents in order to protect our customer's competitive advantage in the marketplace," said Bob Green, one of the principal owners of Nutratech.
Nutratech said in its statement that unlike generic counterparts on the market, most of the research on Citrus aurantium has been conducted using Advantra Z. The product's complete amine composition - synephrine, n-methyltyramine, hordenine, octopamine and tyramine - is said to be responsible for delivering the benefits to metabolism.
In the wake of controversy surrounding the popular herb ma huang (ephedra), Advantra Z is being marketed in the diet and sports nutrition marketplace as a thermogenic alternative. Nutratech claims that studies find the ingredient to work as effectively as ephedra when used properly, without the potentially negative central nervous system and cardiovascular side effects.