Vitux has announced that it has won a patent dispute against Sirio Healthcare in the European Patent Office (EPO) over a European divisional patent for unsaturated fatty acids in gelatin.
The divisional patent has widened Vitux Group's protection of Concordix chewable emulsion technology within Europe, extending it beyond fish oil to unsaturated fatty acids across a broad range of concentrations.
The company now has 46 patents in its portfolio protecting Concordix technology.
Sirio Healthcare had filed an opposition to Vitux Group's EU divisional patent protecting the Concordix chewable emulsion technology incorporating unsaturated fatty acids in gelatin.
The firm challenged the divisional patent's validity on grounds of added matter, lack of novelty and inventive step.
With the divisional patent maintained in amended form, it will now be difficult for competitors seeking to enter the chewable emulsion category to launch a similar product without infringing Vitux's gelatin-based patents in Europe.
The EPO's decision confirms that Vitux is the inventor and a leading authority in the field of chewable emulsions.
Vitux will be exhibiting at this year's Vitafoods Europe tradeshow to discuss the latest developments and their implications for the business.
Visitors to stand 3G122 will be able to sample a range of Concordix concepts, including the following:
- Perform-X Mind: a chocolate-orange chew incorporating enXtra (Alpinia galanga extract from OmniActive) for non-stimulant energy and B-vitamins for cellular energy support
- Vegan Essentials: a currant-flavoured vegan chewable multivitamin developed to meet growing demand for clean-label, plant-based supplements