Opposition to Norwegian functional ingredients patent

Norwegian functional foods company Nutri Pharma ASA announced recently the filing in the European Patent Office (EPO) of an opposition to its granted European patent, Nutri Pharma's proprietary technology for combining soy proteins, fibres and lipids. In accordance with opposition procedures, Nutri Pharma will defend its granted European patent before the Opposition Division (OD) of the EPO, the company claimed. "Given the recognised commercial importance of Nutri Pharma's patented technology, the filing of an opposition was not unexpected,"​ said Graham Waters, Chief Executive of Nutri Pharma. Nutri Pharma's IP portfolio comprises a total of 12 patent-families and applications, and with a total of around 750 claims. The filing of an opposition concerns 1 of these patent-families. Nutri Pharma develops and markets functional food ingredients and products, all based on the company's proprietary soy technology. In October this year the company announced a near 50 per cent growth in third quarter revenues. Third quarter revenues grew from NOK 3.0 million (377,00 euros) last year to NOK 4.5 million (567,000 euros) in 2001. (1 NORWEGIAN KRONE = 0.1259 EURO).