Kemin Files Patent Suit Against OmniActives

TAMPA, Fla.Kemin Health LC, producer of the supplement ingredient FloraGLO® Lutein, filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida against OmniActive Health Technologies Inc., alleging patent violation. According to the suit, OmniActive has manufactured; imported into the United States; and offered to sell, has sold or used within the United States, purified lutein, including purified lutein oil and suspensions under the names of Lutemax® and Lutemax Free Lutein in violation of Kemins U.S. patent rights. Kemin is an exclusive licensee of the patent (U.S. No. 5,382,714), which covers certain methods for the isolation and purification of lutein and lutein compositions. Kemin Foods intends to protect its intellectual property rights in the 714 patent, said Rodney Ausich, Ph.D., president of Kemin (www.Kemin.com). We will vigorously prosecute this matter in federal court.