Acatris cuts deal with ADM on isoflavone marketing rights
allowing it to use substantial intellectual property covering
isoflavones and women's health, reports Dominique Patton.
The patents were previously held by Solae and included a range of general patents on isoflavones from all sources, as well as use patents for women's health.
The expiry last month of opposition time to a key isoflavone patent in Europe prompted Acatris to enter discussions with the new US owner, ADM.
While both ADM and Acatris market soy isoflavones for women's health already, they have different production processes that differentiate their products.
The Acatris SoyLife brand is made from soy germ and retains other soy components such as vitamin E and oligosaccharides. The firm believes this 'soy matrix' enhances the bioavailability of isoflavones.
ADM however extracts isoflavones from soy molasses. It said it does not plan to introduce a soy germ isoflavones product line in addition to its Novasoy brand soy isoflavones.
However there may be some later exchange of patent rights on flax lignans.
"Some of ADM's and Acatris intellectual properties also include rights pertaining to use of flax lignans," explained Laurent Leduc, president of the North America Health Division of Acatris.
"With the potential for crossover health benefits, Acatris is working on further collaboration with ADM on intellectual properties that will allow us to continue our leadership role in flax lignan supplementation through LinumLife Extra," he said.
"ADM looks forward to additional cooperation with Acatris on other ingredient offerings, including flax products," said Steven Furcich, president of ADM Natural Health and Nutrition, in a statement.
ADM bought Solae's soy isoflavone patent portfolio in February this year. It also included patent rights owned by Novogen that are now licensed by ADM.
