The move follows an exclusive license agreement with a purchase option that the Carver, Massachusettes, based company signed with JLB Inc, developer and owner of the patents.
“Given the broad coverage of these significant and fundamental patents, we now have the ability to protect our research investment, increase market share and defend our global leadership position in the rapidly growing cranberry nutraceutical market,” said Doug Klaiber, CEO of DBS, which is a subsidiary of Decas Cranberry Products.
“It is our intention to leverage the intellectual property via the introduction of new innovative products and through strategic partnerships and supply agreements,” he said.
Global reach
Under the new agreement, DBS gains access to four US patents, two Australian patents and one UK patent. The patents are:
- Adhesion Inhibiting Composition (US: 5,474,774; Australia: 708657)
- Partially Purified Cranberry Anti-Adhesion Activity (US: 5,525,341)
- Cranberry Extract and Biologically Active Compounds Derived Therefrom (US: 5,646,178)
- Method of Treating or Preventing Non-Viral Infection (US: 5,650,432)
- Method of Treating or Preventing Non-viral Microbial Infection (Australia: 703158)
- Adhesion Inhibiting Vaccinium Extract (UK: 0752871)
In addition, the firm also has a non-exclusive license with sublicensing rights to two US patents.
These are: 6,608,102 and 6,720,353 – Plant Proanthocyanidin Extract Effective at Inhibition Adherence of Bacteria with P-Type Fimbriae to Surfaces.
Anti-adhesion
DBS highlighted the anti-adhesion properties of cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs), which help to prevent urinary tract infections by blocking the adhesion of bacteria to uroepithelial cells and tissues.
“This same bacterial anti-adhesion effect has been found elsewhere in the body against certain other bacteria, including those responsible for periodontal disease and H. pylori, the leading cause of stomach ulcers – a major risk factor for stomach cancer,” said the firm.
One of the patents (5,646,178) states: “The invention includes methods of utilizing extracts of Vaccinium, and compounds derived therefrom, to interfere with microbial adhesion to a surface such as body tissue. Such body tissues include tissues associated with the mouth, such as the gums, teeth and oral cavity mucosal tissues, throat tissues, and cervical surface tissues. The invention thus includes the use of the Vaccinium extracts and derived compounds to treat various maladies such as urinary tract infections.”
Copies of the patents can be accessed here.