Sabinsa, a herbal products distributor, has won a patent battle in the US courts against Good Earth Nutritional Ingredients (GENI) concerning the company's forskohlin weight loss product.

The case featured ForsLean ‚ Sabinsa's branded forskohlin composition which promotes weight loss through the generation of lean body mass. The judgement stated that the ForsLean patent was "valid and was properly issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office".

Sabinsa brought the legal action against GENI after the latter infringed its patent rights. The company said that the judgment provided for a permanent injunction prohibiting GENI from any further infringement of the patent.

GENI said it had settled the case, although it declined to comment on the sum involved. It remained defiant, however: "GENI's decision to settle was solely based on economic considerations, not due to the merits of the case," said Ajay Patel, president & CEO of GENI. "The integrity of proprietary information is a concern within our industry. GENI is equally committed to protecting its intellectual property."

Sabinsa manufactures and markets a range of phytonutrients, Ayurvedic herbal extracts and specialty fine chemicals used for nutritional, pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical and food products.

For its part, GENI is investing heavily in clinical research associated with it own Ayurvedic extracts, and recently extended a study into its Boswellia Serrata product for an additional nine months in order to provide significant clinical evidence regarding its efficacy.