"The issuance of this patent is a milestone not only for NutraCea, but for millions of arthritis sufferers who have been searching for a safer alternative to prescription drugs such as Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra. These drugs have recently been scrutinized for their safety and efficacy by the FDA, said Patricia McPeak, Founder and CEO of NutraCea. We are delighted to be able to offer safe, naturally effective formulations, which target joint health both internally and externally and to add this patent to our portfolio of proprietary formulations based on stabilized rice bran derivatives."
The patent contains 14 claims, which include a method for treating lameness, pain and loss of mobility in humans and mammals and a method for inhibiting prostaglandin synthetase activity, which is also known as COX-2 inhibition.
According to the Company, the new patent supports NutraCea's strategy of aggressive expansion of its intellectual property portfolio with proprietary technology based solutions that offer unique partnership and licensing opportunities across several multi-billion dollar segments for food, pharmaceutical and specialty healthcare companies.
"As Chairman of NutraCea's Medical Advisory Board, we're really pleased to have this patent issued, especially at a time when safe choices for treatment of arthritic pain and inflammation are being challenged with the recall of several pharmaceutical drugs," said Dr. Eliot Drell.
"Additionally, this patent is not limited in its application for humans but is extended to include all equine and other mammals as well. We feel it will be a positive step and add additional impetus for our existing product supply relationship with our equine provider; W.F. Young Company is a 113- year-old family-owned company, a leading developer and marketer of health, beauty and grooming products for the equine industry and external analgesics for the human healthcare market sold under the brand name of Absorbine Junior," commented McPeak. "To the best of our knowledge, we hold the only patent-protected natural formula alternative to the current generation of pharmaceutical COX-2 inhibitors."