Burcon Strengthens Patent Portfolio

The excellent nutritional profile of Nutratein canola protein isolate makes it a suitable ingredient for animal feed and aquaculture applications.

20 April 2012 --- Burcon NutraScience Corporation is pleased to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted patents for three separate Burcon applications. Two of the patents relate to proprietary processes for the production of canola protein isolates: namely Burcon's Supertein canola protein isolate and Nutratein canola protein isolate. The third patent received relates to a proprietary process for the production of protein isolates from mustard seed.

Supertein is a highly-soluble napin-rich canola protein isolate. The functional properties of Supertein include excellent solubility, the ability to form transparent solutions and foaming. Nutritionally, Burcon's Supertein is uniquely rich in the sulphur containing amino acids, cysteine and methionine. Potential applications for Supertein include beverages, confectionery, aerated desserts, and protein bars, among others.

Burcon's Nutratein canola protein extraction processes allow for the production of canola protein isolates that are rich in both of the two major storage proteins found in canola: napin and cruciferin. The excellent nutritional profile of Nutratein canola protein isolate makes it a suitable ingredient for animal feed and aquaculture applications.

Mustard seed is a small round seed from three principal types of mustard plants: black mustard (Brassica nigra), brown Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) and white mustard (Brassica alba). Mustard seed is a rich source of vegetable oil and protein. Burcon's proprietary process allows for the protein to be separated out from mustard seed meal resulting in a protein isolate with unique nutritional and functional attributes.

"These three patents will further strengthen our already substantial intellectual property platform," said Johann F. Tergesen, president and chief operating officer, adding, "The patenting process -- from initial filing through to obtaining a granted US patent - requires expertise, financial resources, and patience. We are seeing an average application processing time of six years for our patents to grant. With 70 additional US patent applications for our range of plant protein extraction technologies in Burcon's pipeline we expect our intellectual property asset will continue to grow into the future."

To-date, Burcon's patent portfolio consists of 186 issued patents in various countries, including 33 issued U.S. patents, and in excess of 350 additional pending patent applications, 70 of which are U.S. patent applications.