MIGDAL HA'EMEQ, Israel, Aug. 19, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enzymotec Ltd., (Nasdaq:ENZY), a developer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative bio-active lipid based nutritional ingredients and medical foods, announced today that INFAT®, the innovative ingredient that is marketed by Advanced Lipids, a joint venture of AAK and Enzymotec, has been granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for uses related to intestinal development, maturation, adaptation and differentiation.
Developed specifically for infant formula, INFAT® is a clinically-proven fat ingredient that closely resembles the composition, structure and nutritional value of natural fat in human breast milk that is necessary for proper infant health, development and comfort.
"We are pleased to add another patent to our robust intellectual property portfolio. We remain focused on strengthening the unique benefits we provide to customers of INFAT® and proactively seek opportunities that will create additional value for our customers," commented Mr. Avner Avissara, CEO of Advanced Lipids and Enzymotec's VP of Sales for Infant Nutrition, Nutrition Division. "While this new patent pertains to INFAT®'s application for the promotion of intestinal development, maturation, adaptation and differentiation, it also complements another U.S. patent we have for INFAT®, which covers also the treatment of short bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases and necrotizing enterocolitis. We look forward to further developing the benefits of INFAT® and adding value to our customers."
Previously published clinical data demonstrated that infants fed with formula containing INFAT® developed a similar variety of beneficial gut bacteria as breastfed babies. Beneficial gut bacteria promote good health and development and an ability to prevent infections. Additional clinical data also indicated that babies nourished with infant formula containing INFAT® cry less and for a shorter duration in comparison to babies fed with infant formula not containing INFAT®.
About Enzymotec Ltd.
Enzymotec is a leading global supplier of specialty lipid-based products and solutions. The Company develops, manufactures, and markets innovative bio-active lipid based nutritional ingredients and medical foods, driven by a deep core of cutting-edge, proprietary technologies intended to improve people's health. For more information, visit www.enzymotec.com.
About Advanced Lipids
Advanced Lipids is a joint venture of AAK and Enzymotec. For more information, visit www.advancedlipids.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements, which express the current beliefs and expectations of Company management. Such statements involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the following risks: A high proportion of the sales of the InFat product is sold to end users in China and to a single company; Growth in the Chinese economy has moderated and this slowdown and related volatility could adversely impact demand in China for our products; The demand for products based on Omega-3 and in particular, premium products, such as krill oil, has declined and may continue to decline following a significant increase in manufacturing capacity by manufacturers of these products, resulting in intense competition and price pressure; Our offering of products as "medical foods" in the United States may be challenged by regulatory authorities; We rely on our Swedish joint venture partner to manufacture InFat and certain matters related to the joint venture are the subject of disagreement in an arbitration proceeding; We are subject to a degree of customer concentration and our customers do not enter into long-term purchase commitments with us; We depend on third parties to obtain raw materials, in particular krill, necessary for the production of our products; We are dependent on a single facility that houses the majority of our operations; We may have to pay royalties with respect to sales of our krill oil products in the United States or Australia and any infringement of intellectual property of others could also require us to pay royalties; Potential future acquisitions of companies or technologies may distract our management, may disrupt our business and may not yield the returns expected; We anticipate that the markets in which we participate will become more competitive and we may be unable to compete effectively; We may not be able to successfully expand our production or processing capabilities; Our ability to obtain krill may be affected by conservation regulation or initiatives; Our product development cycle is lengthy and uncertain, and our development or commercialization efforts for our products may be unsuccessful; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2015. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.