8 Feb 2010 --- Burcon NutraScience Corporation has received a notice of allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a patent application covering processes for the production of canola protein isolates whereby the resulting isolates are separated into their native underlying protein fractions. A notice of allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office is a written notification that a patent application has cleared internal review and is nearing issuance.

Canola offers a unique amino acid profile, rich in sulfur-containing amino acids, an abundant source of protein, and two distinct protein fractions: napin and cruciferin. Napin is an albumin storage protein and cruciferin is a globulin storage protein. Burcon’s proprietary process allows for the separation of these two distinct fractions resulting in a cruciferin-rich canola protein isolate Puratein and a napin-rich canola protein isolate Supertein. In addition to their inherent nutritional value, these protein ingredients possess distinct characteristic functional properties. Puratein has emulsifying, gelling, and binding properties that make it suitable for use in food applications including sauces, dressings, meat substitutes, baked goods and bars. The functional properties of Supertein include excellent solubility, the ability to form transparent solutions, foaming and nutrition. Applications for Supertein include beverages, confectionery, aerated desserts, and protein bars, among many others.

“The two naturally occurring proteins in canola have highly distinct functional and nutritional characteristics, similar to the way that the two proteins in egg, egg-yolk and egg-white, have distinct characteristics ,” said Johann F. Tergesen, President and Chief Operating Officer, adding, “Our patented processes for the production of Puratein and Supertein canola protein isolates create two distinct protein ingredients with separate nutritional and functional profiles allowing for their use in specific food and beverage applications.”

To-date, Burcon’s patent portfolio consists of 115 issued patents in various countries, including 12 issued U.S. patents, and in excess of 200 additional pending patent applications, 68 of which are U.S. patent applications. Six of Burcon’s 68 U.S. patent applications have now been allowed, including the patent allowance which is the subject of this news release, and will be issued as granted U.S. patents in the near future.