GreenGrown vegetable-source glucosamine maker releases global patent information

Photo © Shutterstock.com/Sebastian Kaulitzki

Vegetarian and vegan dietary supplement customers are increasingly looking for more options in the joint-health aisle, says ingredients supplier Ethical Naturals (Novato, CA). The company, which supplies GreenGrown, a vegetable-sourced glucosamine ingredient that serves as an alternative to shellfish-sourced glucosamine, is now sharing the full list of patents worldwide covering GreenGrown.

Vegetable glucosamine sources don’t just target vegans and vegetarians; they are also geared to those with shellfish allergies or those who follow a kosher diet. GreenGrown is a corn-derived ingredient produced via fermentation. Ethical Naturals says GreenGrown is also well-suited to being formulated with other joint-support ingredients such as methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), hyaluronic acid, and white willow bark extract.

Ethical Naturals says GreenGrown is now protected by 21 patents in 12 countries. (See the full list below.) Those patents cover manufacturing methods developed and patented by Arkion Life Sciences (New Castle, DE), a biotechnology company, including the fermentation-based manufacture of glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine.

In addition, Ethical Naturals has developed and patented in the U.S. a method of testing glucosamine to distinguish between shellfish-based glucosamine and vegetable-based glucosamine. According to the company, other standard testing methods like high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) cannot identify the source of a glucosamine material. The company says, “due to the purity of the USP material, the molecules from either source are virtually identical.” Ethical Naturals’ patented test uses an isotopic signature carbon tracing method (ISCT) that the company says does tell the difference.

Ethical Naturals’ CEO Cal Bewicke explained in a press release how this testing is used. “Today, manufacturers are often attempting to produce glucosamine by fermentation in the same facilities used for shellfish-based material, and intentional and unintentional adulteration can occur. That’s why every batch of our material is tested through the ISTC method to guarantee the 100% vegetable source.”

Bewicke adds, “This is the first time we’ve put all of this [patent] information together to release to industry. We’ve done this now because of the recent rapid growth of interest in vegetable-based supplements.”

Patents developed by Arkion Life Sciences covering the manufacture of vegetable-source glucosamine by fermentation, licensed exclusively to Ethical Naturals Inc.:

• United States: Patent No. 7,332,304 issued 2/19/2008, reexamination certificate issued 12/6/2013; and Patent No. 8,124,381 issued 2/28/2012
• People's Republic of China: Patent No. 99810087.0 issued 5/27/2009; and Pending Application No. 201510220996.1
• Germany: Patent No. 69939901.7-08 issued 11/12/2008; and Patent No. 1576106 issued 6/22/2016
• France: Patent No. 1095158 issued 11/12/2008; and Patent No. 1576106 issued 6/22/2016
• United Kingdom: Patent No.1095158 issued 11/12/2008; and Patent No. 1576106 issued 6/22/2016
• Netherlands: Patent No. 1095158 issued 11/12/2008; and Patent No. 1576106 issued 6/22/2016
• Japan: Patent No. 4567887 issued 8/13/2010; and Patent No. 5769683 issued 7/3/2015
• Mexico: Patent No. 262576 issued 11/27/2008; and Patent No. 260213 issued 9/3/2008
• Australia: Patent No. 2003280305 issued 8/14/2008
• Brazil: Pending Application No. PI-0311865-7
• Canada: Patent No. 2,332,380 issued 11/2/2010; and Patent No. 2,488,853 issued 06/28/2016
• Korea: Patent No. 10-1035043 issued 05/9/2011

Patent for ISCT method to discern shellfish-based glucosamine from vegetable-based glucosamine:

• United States: Patent No. 8076156 issued 12/13/2011