AMBI....PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 7, 1999--AMBI Inc. (Nasdaq: AMBI - news) announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a composition-of-matter patent (No. 5,948,772) to the Company for a novel chromium picolinate complex, ''Chromax® Plus''.
This improved chromium picolinate complex contains combinations of chromium, picolinic acid, and various nutrients for enhancing the benefits of chromium picolinate alone. AMBI has previously demonstrated the safety and efficacy of Chromax chromium picolinate in more than 15 well-controlled clinical trials for people concerned about maintaining healthy blood glucose levels, increasing lean body mass and reducing body fat, and promoting healthy cholesterol levels. New Chromax Plus should provide added benefits to people concerned about these issues and will also be developed, in a different form, as a prescription drug for people with steroid-induced diabetes. Chromax Plus will have patent protection into the year 2018.
Fredric D. Price, AMBI's President and Chief Executive Officer said, ''This is arguably the most important piece of intellectual property at AMBI, in that it extends our exclusivity on leading edge chromium technology well into the next century. We have also filed for protection for Chromax Plus outside of the U.S. with the appropriate patent agencies in foreign countries.''
Mr. Price went on to say, ''Chromax chromium picolinate is an essential component in hundreds of retail products, including capsules, tablets, bars, shakes, and other dietary supplement and food products with an aggregate retail value in the U.S. of about $150 million. We are adding to our research and development efforts on this most important product as the knowledge of its health value continues to increase.''
William T. Cefalu, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Unit at the University of Vermont College of Medicine said, ''Our research on this well-designed new compound, based on effects observed in the laboratory, is being undertaken to characterize all of its potential benefits, including: (1) increased absorption of chromium; (2) enhanced absorption of other essential minerals; and (3) enhanced uptake and more efficient utilization of glucose by muscle. Our goal is to demonstrate the enhanced benefits of supplemental chromium picolinate both to patients with type 2 diabetes and to non-diabetics, building on the results of previous studies that have shown that it favorably affects blood sugar levels.''
Company Reports on Two More Chromium Patents Recently Issued
AMBI also announced that it has recently received two additional U.S. chromium patents: the first, No. 5,929,066 covers a method of reducing hyperglycemia and stabilizing serum glucose by administering chromium picolinate along with biotin; the second, No. 5,905,075, relates to new chromium nicotinate compounds. The Company noted that it is continuing to build its intellectual property portfolio on chromium and that it now holds nine issued U.S. patents on chromium compounds.
AMBI is the exclusive U.S. provider of chromium picolinate (under U.S. Patent No. Re. 33,988 that expires on August 8, 2000) and holds 3 other patents related to chromium picolinate's use as a dietary supplement to:
- maintain healthy glucose levels (U.S. Patent No. 5,087,623);
increase lean body mass and reduce body fat (U.S. Patent No. 5,087,624);
- promote healthy cholesterol levels (U.S. Patent No. 5,175,156).
The above 3 patents expire on February 11, 2009, February 11, 2009, and December 29, 2009, respectively.
More about Chromium Picolinate
In its simple form, chromium (as chromic chloride) is poorly absorbed from the digestive tract. Chromax chromium picolinate complexes the mineral chromium with picolinic acid, a natural substance found in breast milk. In this complex form, the absorption of chromium can be improved by more than 500%. Chromax Plus chromium picolinate builds on the beneficial effects of the mineral complex by adding nutrients that can increase the efficacy of chromium picolinate, enhance the uptake of other essential minerals from the diet, and promote a healthy metabolism by increasing glucose uptake by muscle and enhancing the activity of the receptors for the hormone insulin.
Chromium has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to be an essential mineral in the human diet. Today's average American diet may be deficient in chromium and it has been shown that with age, as well as under certain environmental and physiological conditions of stress, chromium levels in the body are depleted. As a result, consumers may benefit from supplementing their diets with chromium. Over the past ten years, more than 9 million people have supplemented their diets with Chromax® chromium picolinate.
The Company reported that the inventors of the new Chromax Plus include four AMBI employees --- Jon de la Harpe, (PhD), Vice President, Technical Operations; Fredric D. Price, President & CEO; James R. Komorowski, Director, Product Development; Lauren K. Skluth, (RD), Dietitian --- and one consultant, Lawrence W. Chakrin, (PhD).
AMBI develops and markets proprietary nutrition products.
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based upon current expectations. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties set forth in ''Risk Factors'' and elsewhere in AMBI's Registration Statement on Form S-3 and the Prospectus dated June 10, 1999 and AMBI's Form 10-K/A for the year ended June 30, 1998. Actual results and timing of certain events could differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of these and other factors.
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