Niagen Bioscience Acquires Core NAD+ Patent Portfolio from Queen's University Belfast
核心洞察
Niagen Bioscience (搜索) has acquired a comprehensive patent portfolio covering nicotinamide riboside (NR) and its salt forms from Queen's University Belfast, consolidating critical intellectual property for NAD+ precursors.
The acquisition includes foundational composition-of-matter patents covering crystal morphologies, manufacturing methods, and commercial use of NR, providing the strongest form of IP protection available.
The company now holds sole ownership of more than 90 issued and pending patents worldwide across NR and other NAD+ precursors, enhancing strategic flexibility for pharmaceutical applications.
Niagen Bioscience (搜索) has acquired a comprehensive patent portfolio covering nicotinamide riboside (NR) and its salt forms from Queen's University Belfast (QUB), consolidating its position as the global authority on NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) research and healthy aging science. The transaction grants the company outright ownership of core intellectual property that previously operated under licensing and joint ownership arrangements.
Strategic IP Consolidation
The acquired portfolio comprises foundational patents underpinning the production, composition, and commercial use of NR, encompassing crystal morphologies, methods of manufacturing NR and other NAD+ precursors, and global patent rights spanning multiple jurisdictions. Prior to this acquisition, Niagen Bioscience (搜索) held exclusive rights to these patents through longstanding licensing agreements with QUB.
"This transaction consolidates the most important intellectual property underlying our NR business into Niagen Bioscience (搜索) outright," said Rob Fried, Chief Executive Officer of Niagen Bioscience. "Composition of matter patents are the strongest form of IP protection, and owning this portfolio further protects Niagen Bioscience shareholders against infringers of all known forms of the greatest precursor to NAD, NR."
Patent Portfolio Details
The acquired patents include those previously disclosed by the company in March 2025, including US Patent No. 12,252,506, which covers the composition of matter for multiple NR salt forms such as NR Malate (搜索) and NR Tartrate (搜索), as well as other NR derivatives. Composition-of-matter patents are widely regarded as the strongest form of intellectual property protection because they cover the patented molecule itself and its defined forms, regardless of specific manufacturing pathways or methods of use.
With this acquisition, Niagen Bioscience (搜索)'s intellectual property estate now includes more than 90 issued and pending patents worldwide across NR and other NAD+ precursors, with more than 50 issued and pending patents focused solely on NR. This portfolio reflects decades of leadership in NAD+ science and innovation.
Enhanced Strategic Flexibility
The acquisition provides Niagen Bioscience (搜索) with enhanced financial, strategic, and operational flexibility, along with greater control over the molecules it advances across current and future applications, including those planned for pharmaceutical applications. The transaction also represents increased optionality in how the intellectual property is developed, partnered, or licensed, positioning the company for expanded therapeutic development opportunities.