RHEINBREITBACH, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 13 January 2020 – Jennewein Biotechnologie GmbH filed a
patent infringement suit with the regional court in Mannheim on January 09,
2020 against Nestlé Nutrition GmbH and its holding company Nestlé Deutschland
AG. Nestlé offers its infant formula Beba Supreme which contains two human milk
oligosaccharides — unique saccharides naturally occurring in human breast milk
only — for sale in Germany. Pursuant to the findings of Jennewein
Biotechnologie, Nestlé uses human milk oligosaccharides for the manufacturing
of its infant formula that are produced by a process being protected – among
other IP rights – by European Patents EP 2 896 628 and EP 3 131 912 (start of
protection: January 22, 2020) which are thus infringed by Nestlé.
As Nestlé offers its infant food containing human milk
oligosaccharides not just in Germany, Jennewein currently investigates measures
against the assumed infringement of its corresponding foreign patents by the
manufacturing of products such as Illuma, SMA, NAN and Gerber Good Start.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement
About HMOs:
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are
complex sugar molecules that are only present in breast milk. Excluding water, they are the
third most abundant constituent of human milk after fats and lactose. More than
200 structurally different HMOs have been identified. The most abundant HMO is
2′-fucosyllactose, which is produced by about 80% of all lactating mothers at concentrations of
up to 3 g/L. Scientific studies have shown that HMOs, and 2′‑fucosyllactose in
particular, have a positive impact on infant health and development. HMOs are
prebiotics, i.e. they specifically promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms,
and at the same time they inhibit the growth of pathogens by directly and
indirectly preventing colonisation. Jennewein Biotechnologie launched
2′-fucosyllactose onto the global baby food market in 2015, and several infant
milk formulas around the world now contain 2′-fucosyllactose (e.g. Abbott
Similac).
About Jennewein Biotechnologie:
Jennewein
Biotechnologie is a leading international industrial biotechnology company with
a range of products in the field of complex oligosaccharides (HMOs) and rare
monosaccharides. The company manufactures an extensive portfolio of
innovative HMO products, such as 2′‑fucosyllactose, 3-fucosyllactose and lacto-N-tetraose.
These rare sugars are used in the food industry (particularly infant milk
formulas), the pharmaceutical industry, and the cosmetic industry. The
manufacturing process involves state-of-the-art fermentation techniques. In
2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Jennewein
Biotechnologie a license to market 2′-fucosyllactose in the USA. This was
followed in 2017 by The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) under the Novel
Food Regulation.
