Cenestra Health Issued Notice of Allowance: Expands Patent Range of High-Purity Omega-3 Fatty Acid Formulations

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a notice of allowance related to Cenestra Health's high-purity omega-3 fatty acid formulations and their methods of use.  The patent claims cover a range of high-purity omega-3 formulations including ethyl-ester, free fatty acid and triglyceride forms.  In 2010, Cenestra Health was issued U.S. Patent No. 7652068, entitled "Omega-3 Fatty Acid Formulations," covering its unique 4.1:1 ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The expanded patent range now covers high-purity omega-3 formulations with EPA:DHA ratios between about 3.5 to about 5:1. The patent claims also include methods of use to treat dyslipidemias including hypertriglyceridemia.

"The omega-3 landscape is in the midst of a major paradigm shift toward optimally formulated and very highly concentrated EPA/DHA products. The expanded patent claims allowed by the USPTO represent an important milestone in our scientific efforts as we advance novel investigational drugs into human clinical trials for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia, central nervous system, and inflammatory disorders," commented Louis Sanfilippo, MD, a Managing Director of the company and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine.  

Data obtained from third party laboratories support Cenestra Health's expanded range of proprietary formulations by demonstrating unique properties associated with different ratios of EPA:DHA.  Preclinical and clinical studies show the combination of high omega-3 concentration and these novel 'EPA:DHA ratio response effects' modulate key inflammatory cytokines, increase nerve growth factors, and lower triglycerides without increasing LDL cholesterol.  Cenestra Health is utilizing its biomarker targets and human clinical data to develop safe, new prescription medications for cardiovascular disease, depression and inflammation-based illnesses..

Omega-3-acid ethyl esters represent a class of medications called lipid-regulating agents. Prescription omega-3s are used together with lifestyle changes (i.e., weight loss, diet) to reduce the amount of triglycerides by decreasing the amount of fats made in the liver. The FDA has approved a number of prescription drugs to treat elevated triglycerides, including an omega-3 ethyl ester medication.

About Cenestra, LLC (D/B/A Cenestra Health)

Cenestra Health is a privately-held and unleveraged biopharmaceutical company based in New Haven, Connecticut. Cenestra Health was founded in 2005 to formulate, develop and market "best-in-class" proprietary natural products with applications in the OTC, medical food and pharmaceutical markets. Cenestra Health is focused on the clinical development of its late stage clinical drug candidates for the treatment of dyslipidemias and central nervous system disorders. Cenestra Health is planning to initiate  Phase 3 registrational trials in early 2012.

About Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered "essential" fatty acids (EFAs) as they are necessary to human health but cannot be produced by the body. The two major health promoting omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA have been shown to promote good physical and emotional health, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and exert powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Omega-3 prescriptions in the United States alone accounted for over $1 billion dollars in sales in 2010.

Statements made in this press release should not to be construed as making any specific claim or claims in the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of any disease or disorder but  may relate to historical facts and information that reflect forward looking statements based on Cenestra Health's intellectual property and scientific data.    

Investor Contact:  

Louis Sanfilippo, M.D., Managing Director
Cenestra Health
234 Church Street, Suite 302
New Haven, Connecticut 06510

Telephone: 203-362-8919

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.cenestrahealth.com

US Patent No. 7652068/Omega-3 Fatty Acid Formulations

SOURCE Cenestra Health