U.S. Appeals Court Issues Final Ruling That Upholds Thorne HealthTech Inc.'s Prior Challenge of Nicotinamide Riboside Intellectual Property Claim

Rhea-AI Summary

On January 3, 2023, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the invalidation of U.S. Patent No. 8,383,086, previously challenged by Thorne HealthTech (NASDAQ: THRN). This patent, owned by Dartmouth College and licensed to ChromaDex, covered nicotinamide riboside, granting broad protection regardless of source. Dartmouth withdrew its appeal, confirming the patent's invalid status. Thorne intends to expand its product line featuring nicotinamide riboside hydrogen malate, which is known for its high safety profile and is involved in several clinical trials focused on healthy aging and performance.

Positive

• Thorne's challenge to the patent successfully upheld, eliminating restrictions on nicotinamide riboside products.
• The company's product suite shows high safety and is backed by ongoing clinical trials.

Negative

• None.

NEW YORK, Jan. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 3, 2023, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., issued a final ruling rendering the previously issued U.S. Patent No. 8,383,086 ("the '086 patent") to be unpatentable and therefore invalid. The '086 patent claim covered "The pharmaceutical composition . . . wherein nicotinamide riboside is isolated from a natural or synthetic source."  The effect of the '086 patent was to provide broad patent protection of the nicotinamide riboside (NR) molecule regardless of source and in any salt form such as NR chloride, NR tartrate, NR malate, etc.

Thorne HealthTech (NASDAQ: THRN) had challenged the validity of the '086 patent at the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and the PTAB had upheld Thorne's challenge, which rendered the '086 patent invalid at that time.  The '086 patent is owned by Dartmouth College and is licensed to ChromaDex, of Irvine, California, for commercial use.  Dartmouth College had appealed the PTAB's decision to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. However, just days ago, Dartmouth College withdrew their appeal, which leaves the initial PTAB invalidity ruling of the '086 patent intact.

Thorne HealthTech intends to continue its highly successful expansion into the nutritional supplement marketplace with its nicotinamide riboside hydrogen malate (NRM) suite of products. Thorne's NRM has among the highest safety profiles in the NR market and is the subject of several ongoing clinical trials related to healthy aging, cognition, and human performance.

About Thorne HealthTech:
Thorne HealthTech is a leader in developing innovative solutions for delivering personalized approaches to health and wellness. As a science-driven wellness company that empowers individuals with the support, education, and solutions they need to achieve healthy aging – living healthier longer – Thorne utilizes testing and data to create improved product efficacy and to deliver personalized solutions to consumers, health professionals, and corporations. Predicated on the power of the individual, Thorne leverages artificial intelligence models to provide insights and personalized data, products, and services that help individuals take a proactive and actionable approach to improve and maintain their health over a lifetime. Thorne is the only supplement manufacturer that collaborates with Mayo Clinic on health and wellness research and content, and is trusted by more than five million customers, 46,000+ health-care professionals, thousands of professional athletes, and more than 100 professional sports teams and U.S. National Teams. For more information, visit Thorne.com.

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SOURCE Thorne HealthTech, Inc.

FAQ

What was the outcome of Thorne HealthTech's patent challenge on January 3, 2023?

Thorne HealthTech's challenge led to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the invalidation of U.S. Patent No. 8,383,086.

How does the patent ruling affect Thorne HealthTech's business?

The ruling allows Thorne to freely market its nicotinamide riboside products without patent restrictions.

What is the significance of nicotinamide riboside for Thorne HealthTech?

Nicotinamide riboside is central to Thorne's product offerings and is associated with healthy aging and cognition.