Natural Alternatives International Files Patent Infringement Claim Against DNP International Co

Natural Alternatives International, Inc.

announced today that on February 6 it filed a claim for patent infringement against DNP International Co., Inc. in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. NAI alleges that DNP infringes U.S. Patent No. 8,067,381, entitled "Methods and compositions for increasing the anaerobic working capacity in tissues." The '381 patent was issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on November 29, 2011 and is part of NAI's worldwide portfolio covering CarnoSyn® beta-alanine. DNP becomes the latest in a series of '381 patent infringement claims brought against companies in the nutritional supplement industry, including Woodbolt Distribution, LLC (also known as Cellucor), F.H.G. Corporation (doing business as Integrity Nutraceuticals), Vitaquest International, Inc., (doing business as Garden State Nutritionals), BPI Sports, LLC and Image Sports, LLC. NAI alleges that DNP supplies beta-alanine to nutritional supplement contract manufacturers, formulators and distributors in the United States. DNP imports its beta-alanine into the United States from China. Mark A. LeDoux, NAI's CEO and Chairman of the Board, said that "even though DNP has been aware of the new '381 patent since November 30, 2011, it has continued to engage in infringing activities. DNP knows full well that the only duly licensed distributor of NAI's CarnoSyn® beta-alanine product is Compound Solutions, Inc." He went on to say that "NAI will continue to protect and defend its valuable intellectual property portfolio." NAI is represented by the Washington, D.C. based law firm of Patton Boggs LLP.