The
export of black pepper, piperine or its oleoresin from the country would
in no way be affected by the US patent on piperine obtained by the New
Jersey based Sabinsa Corporation, company president and CEO Muhammed
Majeed said. He clarified that what Sabinsa Corporation has obtained
is a patent for a specific use of piperine.
"Our
patent specifically applies to piperines use in increasing the
bio availability of nutritional compounds like vitamins, amino acids,
mineral herbal extracts etc." he said.
"Our
patent is not a product patent" he explained. When contacted Mr
C K George, executive director, Spices Board, also ailayed the fears
that Sabinsa Corporations US patent on piperine would adversely
affect Indian exports of pepper, piperine or oleoresins. Speaking to
The Economic Times, Dr. Majeed said that he also met Spices Board Chairman
Jayashanker and clarified his position. Dr. Majeed an NRI who specialises
in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, herbal extracts
and phytochemicals said that he is clarifying his position as "there
is some confusion in both trade and media regarding Sabinsa Corporations
US patent on piperine."
According
to Dr. Majeed, the US patent on piperine is held by also by CSIR and
Cadila Laboratories, Ahmedabad.
While
these two patents are in drug bio-availability, Sabinsa Corporations
patent is in bio-availability of nutritional compounds. Moreover, the
patent is jointly held by Sabinsa and the Bangalore based Sami Chemicals,
another company owned by Dr. Majeed. The row over the patent rights
of piperine broke out following a legal notice served by the US $ 28
million, Sabinsa Corporation on the US agent of Kerala based exporter
of spice and spice products namely Kancor Flavours and Extracts. The
Spices Board officials consider that the legal notice was the result
of the wrong interpretation of the patent laws. "Dr. Majeed also
agrees to this," they said.
"With
Dr. Majeed himself coming here to explain his position and to clarify
the misconceptions we do not think that there is anything to worry,"
a Spices Board official said.
However,
the efforts to collect and document all information on the medicinal
and therapeutical properties of spices have already started, Spices
Board officials said. The information would then be made available to
patent offices world wide in order to protect the countrys traditional
knowledge in these areas, sources said.
Dr.
Majeeds Indian company, the Rs.32 crore, Sami Chemicals and Extracts
in Bangalore has won several awards for export performance, new product
development and basic drug development from the Government of India
and the Spices Board.