Indus Biotech Private Limited (Pune, India), a science-based company involved in the research, development and commercialization of "kinder and gentler" solutions for the preservation of wellness and health, has announced that it has just been granted a patent by USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) for a novel and innovative process to manufacture Lutein. (Patent No 7179930)

Lutein is a plant derived anti-oxidant pigment which has been clinically proven to be beneficial in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This ingredient is increasingly being used in multi-vitamin supplements and ophthalmologic products.

Lutein is a highly sensitive and unstable compound. Current methods of manufacture employ higher temperatures, leading to degradation and lower yields, thereby making this product highly expensive. Indus Biotech’s innovative and patented process not only occurs at room temperature, but also helps to capture all the Lutein from the biomass. Needless to say, yields are significantly higher and Lutein becomes available at very affordable prices. Indus Biotech has also developed a very novel method to stabilize Lutein for longer shelf life without the addition of exogenous chemicals. Further, the company has backward integrated and developed special varieties of the raw material flower for securing a strong raw material position without any risk of contamination by pesticides. This backward integration, combined with a highly efficient and cost-effective process to manufacture Lutein, will make Indus Biotech’s product highly affordable in all segments of the Lutein market.

With increasing longevity and an aging population in most countries, demand for Lutein as a supplement is on the rise, especially in the United States and EC countries where a wide range of products are being launched in support of eye health. Indus Biotech’s patented process will make Lutein available at very affordable prices to address this burgeoning demand.