Life science company DSM is in top gear this year, with the European Patent Office (EPO) revealing that the company filed the largest number of biotechnology patent applications in Europe this year, for the second year in succession.
According to the company, this high volume of applications is due to the success of DSM's two-year genomics programme, which it says has generated almost 400 patent applications as a result of its research and development.
According to EPO, DSM filed a total of 396 patent applications, with the number of biotechnology patents rising from 156 applications in 2001 to 237 applications in 2002.
DSM said it will be using enzymes identified and patented under the genomics project, amongst others, for the production of food ingredients for the prevention of diabetes and obesity, as well as to lower the risk of cardio-vascular diseases.
The genomics project analysed the complete DNA sequence of the Aspergillus niger fungus, one of DSM's most important production organisms, and thereby giving access to a whole new variety of previously unknown enzymes, said the company this week in a statement.
A number of these enzymes are said to be under development and will be used for the production of nutritional ingredients, examples being the development of the key ingredients for a new recovery drink for athletes - destined for use by Dutch athletes in preparation for the Olympic Games - and the de-bittering of valuable protein hydrolysates.
However, commenting on the news, DSM managing board member, Jan Zuidam, said that: "despite our growing and ongoing R&D programmes, it is unlikely that we will file such a high volume of biotech patents in the coming years, since the organism is now fully analysed."
He added that the company was particularly excited about the implications of its genomics project patents for the production of nutritional products as well as processing aids for human food, and concluded that DSM was confident in the future realisation of the potential of these patents.
In July DSM reported a second quarter drop of 17 per cent in operating profit to €85 million compared to 2002 as well as a 5 per cent drop in sales. It therefore remains to be seen whether the new owners of Roche Vitamins can transform the flood of patent applications into solid goods in order to aid the rebound predicted by the company for the year end.