Natraceutical Comes Out of First Part of Mars Dispute
Natraceutical said that the removal of the threat of a preliminary injunction allows them to continue unrestricted marketing of its CocoanOX products in the U.S., and represents a first major victory for Natraceutical Group.
29/08/07 Natraceutical Group has been notified that Mars Inc. has withdrawn its request for a preliminary injunction filed against the biotechnological company headquartered in Valencia (Spain). Mars initiated proceedings last April, alleging infringement by Natraceutical Group of US patents 6.790.966 and 6.312.753, as a result of U.S. sales of Natraceutical Group´s CocoanOX products, which are rich in polyphenols (antioxidants with beneficial effects on cardiovascular health).
Food industry giant Mars Inc, which markets M&Ms, Mars and Twix among other chocolate brands, intended to stop Natraceutical Group from selling CocoanOX in the U.S. through a preliminary injunction motion while the court proceedings were pending, thus attempting to halt the market expansion that Natraceutical Group is achieving thanks to the strong interest that CoccoanOX has generated among leading international chocolate companies.
Natraceutical said that the removal of the threat of a preliminary injunction allows them to continue unrestricted marketing of its CocoanOX products in the U.S., and represents a first major victory for Natraceutical Group in the ongoing legal dispute between both the two companies. The news also re-enforces Natraceutical´s achievements in research and development on nutritional ingredients and functional foods for which the company – an industry leader - has obtained patent rights since it started operations.
Natraceutical said that Mars´ withdrawal of its preliminary injunction motion is the result of Natraceutical Group´s actions defending its interests and the arguments presented to date against the alleged infringement by the biotech company. Natraceutical Group has always complied with the intellectual property rights of others and the Spanish group remains confident that the outcome of the judicial proceedings against Mars inc. will be favorable.
“This news must be taken with due caution”, says José Vicente Pons Andreu, CEO of Natraceutical Group. “I think the first conclusion we can draw is that the CocoanOX product range offers outstanding functional and therapeutic properties to improve certain cardiovascular disorders and slow down the aging process of cells. This fact has brought significant international attention. Besides, this shows once more that Natraceutical Group’s i+D activity is at the global forefront”. Pons Andreu added, “Natraceutical Group will continue to work on the defense of its interests and products and demonstrate that the company’s activities strictly comply with the law”.
