Patent approval for herbal cold line

The patent claim, applied for last year, is based on combining an OTC anti-inflammatory product, such as aspirin, with a synergistic formulation of antioxidants, for example, green tea, Astragalus root, and elderberry and a liver protectant, such as milk thistle.

"We are currently in the process seeking an ideal partner to whom we intend to license our patents for production, marketing and distribution of the CoCare product line,"​ said Fred Tannous, CEO of the Health Sciences Group.

Since each CoCare product will feature the health claims of a well-known OTC pharmaceutical ingredient, we expect these combination products will benefit from an established and knowledgeable customer base, added Bill Glaser, co-chairman and president of the Los Angeles-based firm that provides herbals through its Quality Botanical Ingredients division.

At the beginning of last year Health Sciences Group pushed forward patents for its new CoCare product line born from the recent synergy with Quality Botanical Ingredients. In early 2003 Health Sciences Group acquired bulk botanical materials and nutritional ingredients company QBI - a move which dramatically lifted profits and sales of the group for the second quarter ended June 30, 2003.

In a statement in March last year the company said that its BioSelect division was seeking intellectual property protection for six products from the new CoCare product line, developed using the ' formulating expertise of its Quality Botanical Ingredients division, a cryogenic processor of 500 different herbs and botanicals'.

The line includes formulations to treat nasal and sinus congestion, acid reflux, cough reflex, allergy and cold relief and pain relief. At the time Fred E. Tannous highlighted 'the growing interest in herbal remedies by physicians and consumers, and a steady flow of new research,' as a key motivation behind the patent push.