ChromaDx Corp. has bolstered its intellectual property position in the healthy aging supplement market with the issuance of two new U.S. continuation patents protecting novel manufacturing methods for nicotinamide riboside (NR), a key NAD+ precursor. The patents, numbered 11,242,364 and 11,274,117, extend protection for the company's flagship ingredient Niagen® until November 10, 2037.
Enhanced Manufacturing Protection
The newly granted patents provide comprehensive protection for ChromaDx's manufacturing processes of NR and its various salt forms. U.S. Patent No. 11,242,364 covers the manufacturing process of nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide riboside triacetate (NRT) salts, including malate and tartrate salts. The second patent, No. 11,274,117, specifically protects a novel method for producing NR chloride salt.
"This patent adds further protection of a novel method of making NR chloride to our portfolio," said Aron Erickson, ChromaDx Vice President of Research & Development, who led the development team for the patent. "I am honored to have led a team on the development of this important patent."
Both patents fall under the broader patent family titled "Efficient and Scalable Syntheses of Nicotinoyl Ribosides and Reduced Nicotinoyl Ribosides, Modified Derivatives Thereof, Phosphorylated Analogs Thereof, Adenylyl Dinucleotide Conjugates Thereof, and Novel Crystalline Forms Thereof."
Strategic Market Positioning
The patent additions come at a time when the NAD+ supplement market is experiencing significant growth. ChromaDx CEO Rob Fried emphasized the strategic importance of these intellectual property protections, stating, "We believe Niagen, or NR, is the most important supplement ingredient to have emerged in many years. The science shows that it is important to anyone concerned about physiological aging."
ChromaDx now maintains a robust patent portfolio of over 40 granted patents relating to Niagen® and other NAD+ precursors. This comprehensive intellectual property protection covers not only current formulations but also provides a foundation for future innovations in salt forms and manufacturing processes.
Growing Market Opportunity
The healthy aging supplement market continues to expand as scientific understanding of NAD+ biology advances. NAD+ levels naturally decline with age, making supplementation with precursors like NR increasingly relevant for consumers focused on healthy aging. Erickson noted that "awareness around the importance of NAD in aging continues to grow, and the market for novel NAD+ precursors, like NR, continues to expand."
The continuation patents allow ChromaDx to protect manufacturing innovations that could be leveraged in future product developments. This protection extends beyond current formulations to cover new salt forms the company may develop, providing flexibility for future research and development initiatives.
Competitive Advantage
ChromaDx's expanded patent portfolio reinforces its position as what the company describes as "the legal and safe way to obtain NR." The manufacturing process protections are particularly significant in a competitive supplement market where intellectual property can provide substantial barriers to entry for competitors.
The company's flagship product, Tru Niagen®, contains Niagen® as its sole active ingredient. The strengthened patent protection around manufacturing processes ensures ChromaDx maintains control over key production methods for this commercially important compound.
These patent grants represent a continuation of ChromaDx's strategy to build comprehensive intellectual property protection around NAD+ biology and related compounds, positioning the company to capitalize on the growing interest in healthy aging supplements while protecting its technological innovations from competitive threats.
