Ephedra alternative gets patent in Canada

After the controversy surrounding ephedra, Nutratech​ believes that citrus aurantium extract, Advantra Z, has emerged as the ideal thermogenic alternative for weight loss and physical performance enhancement. "It works as effectively as the former when used properly without the potentially negative central nervous system and cardiovascular side effects,"​ said the company.

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has granted a patent for citrus aurantium, bitter orange or citrus extracts, to be used for the regulation of appetite, body weight and athletic function.

The firm already has US patents relating to the use of the extracts for, but not limited to, stimulating thermogenesis, reducing weight loss, increasing lean muscle mass to total body mass, improving athletic performance and suppressing appetite.

Other US, Canadian and international patents are pending.

"All our North American customers can now tout the applications supported in the patents - subject to their attorney's approval - on their label and marketing support material,"​ said Bob Green, one of the principals of Nutratech. "This gives Nutratech's customers an advantage over the competition who may be purchasing generic citrus aurantium and therefore cannot legally make these claims,"​ he added.

Advantra Z is composed of five synergistic adrenergic amines, namely synephrine, n-methyltyramine, hordenine, octopamine and tyramine.

In January this year Nutratech settled a lawsuit concerning the use of claims related to its bitter orange brand. Nutratech's case, filed in September last year, held Nutrabiotics Research Labs liable for making claims exclusively licensed to Nutratech on labels and marketing material for the rival firm's Thermofuel Lite and LipoLean products. The company agreed to refrain from infringing on the four patents licensed from a firm called Zhishin. It has also paid an undisclosed sum for past infringement of the patents.