Mars Sues to Protect Cocoa Flavanol Patent

MCLEAN, Va.Mars, Incorporated has filed a lawsuit against cocoa flavanol extract supplier Naturex, makers of the Cocoactiv product, and against cocoa flavanol supplement manufacturers Nutraceuticals (makers of the Solaray products) and Life Extension Foundation (makers of the Cocoa Gold products) for infringement of nine U.S. patents owned by Mars.  The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., and requests that an injunction be granted to stop infringing sales and the promotion of the supplements for patented uses.

Mars is the maker of CirkuHealth brand cocoa flavanol supplement products. For nearly two decades, Mars has been studying the process of measuring and maximizing the retention of cocoa flavanols and uncovering their related health benefits, resulting in over 100 scientific publications and a broad patent portfolio.