Combined, U.S. patents 9,028,877 and 9,034,388 cover not only the method for producing Superba Krill Oil, but also the manufacture of other krill oils from denatured krill and/or krill meal using a polar solvent, said the company.
“We developed this method and filed a U.S. patent application claiming the invention in March 2007, and have been waiting for these important patents to issue for the past 8 years,” says Matts Johansen, Aker BioMarine's COO. “We are pleased the USPTO has now considered it both novel and non-obvious as of the priority date.”
“We have invested large sums into sustainable krill harvesting infrastructure and product R&D, and are prepared to defend and enforce our intellectual property if necessary,” added Johansen. “ We encourage all stakeholders to carefully and independently assess whether or not krill oils purchased, used, or resold by them are produced by the patent protected processes.”