Univestin is a blend of flavans from Acacia catechu and the flavonoids from Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria Baicalensis). The company has already received a usage patent on the Acacia species flavans in the joint health area - as well as patents covering the flavans' use as a to modulate COX/LOX mediated inflammatory conditions.
The new patent is the final piece in the Univestin IP protection puzzle, and relates to all potential genus and parts of high plants that include Scutellaria genera for treating osteoarthritis. Unigen CEO Regan Miles said: "This is good news to Unigen's important customers and partners that reply on Univestin as the active ingredient in their revolutionary joint support products."
Joint health is one of the strongest themes in the nutraceutical market, especially since the withdrawal of Vioxx consumers have cast about for alternatives - and natural products manufacturers have scrambled to develop new products.
Ingredients developers have come to their aid, bringing to the table a number of innovative concepts. The new options - in addition to established ingredients glucosamine and chondroitin - now include the likes of Litozin from Danish rosehip, Waitaki's Calcium Peptocan, Nexrutine from the bark of the phellodendron tree from Next Pharmaceuticals, and DNP-distributed Microlactin milk protein.
Credibility in this increasingly competitive field is bolstered by strong science to support efficacy.
Dr Qi Jia, Phd, lead inventor and chief science officer at Unigen, said that the patent demonstrates the capability of Unigen's science program to discover novel uses for flavonoids in supporting joint health.
The bioactive natural product was discovered using Unigen's PhytoLogix platform.
Miles added that the new patent should also "give significant pause to those who might wish to try to infringe on [Unigen's] product".