According to president Mark Nottoli, the patent provides supplements manufacturers with a new approach to using the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid to help alleviate the symptoms of joint disorders and "serves to strengthen [PharmaNutrient's] position as a leader and innovator for CLA".
The combination is yet to be named and a date has not yet been fixed for licenses to become available but Nottoli told NutraIngredients-USA.com that it was likely to be later this year.
The patent includes a total of 25 allowed claims, the most important of which, according to director of R&D Susie Rockwell, being "a method for treating arthritis, osteoarthritis, or joint pain comprising the step of administering to an animal a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising conjugated linoleic acid, glucosamine, and ascorbic acid".
Subsequent claims provide for the form, content and quantities of each of the components.
Rockway points to the ability of CLA One, PharmaNutrient's branded, commercially-available form of CLA, to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting numerous functions. "We have numerous studies planned to enable us to better understand its mechanism and further validate this technology," she said.
Also this year PharmaNutrients hopes to receive three other patents for CLA applications: diabetes, syndrome X and catabolic response to stress.
"Our strategy is to identify new and novel applications for these sorts of raw materials and validate them through clinical research, for delivery to clients," said Nottoli.
As a privately-held company PharmaNutrients does not release its financial results, but according to Nottoli it has seen steady growth since its foundation in 1999.
In May 2004 it unveiled Fembiance, a blend of CLA One and Neptune Krill oil aimed at relieving many of the physiological and emotional symptoms of PMS, such as irritability and depression, as well as menstrual pain.
CLA One is derived from natural safflower oil and has an action similar to that of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. Suggested health benefits include helping to maintain a healthy heart and veins, healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels and anti-oxidant and anti-atherogenic properties.