The claims of this new patent cover methods of promoting weight loss through oral administration of substantially purified Akkermansia, including both live and pasteurized forms.
This represents a significant expansion of the company’s U.S. patent protection. While previous patents issued to TAC—which was acquired by Danone last year—addressed pasteurized Akkermansia specifically, this new patent extends enforceable protection to all substantially purified forms of the bacterium, including viable live cells.
TAC also received a favorable decision from a Belgian court late last year and now plans to expand commercial activity across Europe and Asia-Pacific, while stepping up investment in the U.S. market.
“These developments recognize and protect years of scientific research that have advanced our understanding of Akkermansia and its role in human health,” said. Professor Willem M. de Vos, co-founder of The Akkermansia Company. “Strong intellectual property protection helps ensure that scientific discoveries can be translated into innovative products while supporting continued investment in research and expanding access to Akkermansia-based health solutions.”
Patent prevents competitors from marketing Akkermansia for weight loss
Akkermansia was first discovered, characterized and isolated from human gut microbiota in 2004 in the laboratory of Professor de Vos at Wageningen University, The Netherlands. Shortly after, Professor Patrice D. Cani and his team at UC Louvain, Belgium, discovered the beneficial effects of the bacteria, demonstrating its ability to strengthen the gut lining, improve metabolic health and reduce systemic inflammation.
It wasn’t until 2021 that EFSA published a positive scientific opinion, deeming Akkermansia safe as a food ingredient. The European Commission then approved it as a novel food in 2022, leading to its official market entry in the EU, shortly followed by a string of global launches.
The battle over the U.S. patent for metabolic disorders began shortly after, with the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) initiating an official patent interference proceeding in 2023. The board ruled that Cani et al. were the first to file the patent application.
It was only on Jun. 2, 2026, that the board issued the patent (No. 12,642,821), titled Use of Akkermansia for Treating Metabolic Disorders, to inventors Patrice Cani, Amandine Everard, Clara Belzer, and Willem de Vos, with Danone as assignee.
This update clarified that Cani and de Vos were the inventors of using Akkermansia to treat metabolic disorders and expanded enforceable protection to all substantially purified live and pasteurized forms of the bacterium for weight loss.
However, the opposing party has appealed the decision, with a hearing and decision expected later this year. If the Federal Circuit affirms the PTAB decision, multiple additional U.S. patents covering the invention are expected to be issued to Danone.
Michael Oredsson, CEO of The Akkermansia Company, said this issuance prevents other U.S. companies from marketing Akkermansia for weight management purposes.
“The newly granted TAC/Danone U.S. patent excludes competition to market using Akkermansia for promoting weight loss,” he told NutraIngredients. “The strategy of TAC is to build consumer brands establishing TAC as the Akkermansia science inventor and leader. In addition, the company supplies Akkermansia MucT as an ingredient to a selected number of quality brands.”
TAC is now launching its Akkermansia brand in the U.S. through healthcare practitioner channels as well as direct-to-consumer routes.
TAC plans commercial expansion in Europe following favorable decision by Belgian court
In Europe, TAC is continuing to expand its presence, commercializing dietary supplements containing pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila and advancing its own branded ingredient, Akkermansia MucT.
This follows on from a favorable decision from the Belgian court in November 2025 which, similarly to the U.S. patent battle, related to both live and pasteurized Akkermansia for metabolic disorders.
The court ruled that Cani and de Vos are the inventors of the technology, determining that competing patent applications were based on information originating from the inventors’ research.
However, this decision has also been appealed by the opposing party. While a specific date for the appeal hearing or decision has not yet been announced, patent litigation appeals in the Belgian court system traditionally take 12 to 24 months to reach a final judgment.
