Who says you can't make money in vitamin research/patents?

thenewme · February 2010

Wow! Anyone who thinks there is no money to be made in vitamin research and patenting should do some reading on Harry Steenbock and Hector DeLuca!

**********Quote from an article called "Little Biotech on the Prairie" *************

Madison-based Deltanoid Pharmaceuticals (www.deltanoid.com) develops treatments based on vitamin D analogs for osteoporosis, renal osteodystrophy, psoriasis, and other diseases. The company was cofounded by Hector DeLuca, the Harry Steenbock Research Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Dr. Margaret Clagett-Dame, his wife. DeLuca has generated patents prolifically in the course of five decades of research on vitamins A and over 150 in the U.S. and more than 1000 worldwide, producing more than $150 million for WARF in licensing fees. He was involved in developing eight drugs, including Alfarol, Zemplar, Rocaltrol, and the eponymous Hectorol, which exceeded $5 billion in pharmaceutical sales.

DeLuca had existing connections with pharma companies, a long-term relationship with WARF through his own work, and good enough data in animals to get venture capital investment for Deltanoid, led by Dan Broderick (formerly at Mason Wells) as well as Venture Investors, LLC. In 2004, Deltanoid signed collaborations with Abbott Laboratories to develop Vitamin D Receptor Activators (VDRAs) for the treatment of kidney disease and licensed to Pfizer its lead compound 2MD [2-methylene-19-nor-20(S)-1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3] to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis for $42.5 million in upfront and milestone payments.

****************************

thenewme · February 2010

In 1924, biochemist Harry Steenbock discovered that exposure to ultraviolet irradiation boosted the Vitamin D content of certain foods, and showed that rickets was cured in rats fed irradiated (and thus Vitamin D augmented) food. Previously, Vitamin D deprivation could only be treated by swallowing cod-liver oil, a foul-tasting remedy, but Steenbock's discovery made it possible to enrich other foodstuffs with Vitamin D, and effectively eliminated rickets as a common disease.

Quaker Oats offered Steenbock one million dollars for the rights to his discovery, but he decided that such income should be applied to further research instead of his own personal wealth. With eight colleagues at the University of Wisconsin, he established the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), to which he transferred ownership of his patent, before licensing the rights to Quaker Oats, several pharmaceutical companies, and dairies that manufacture Vitamin D-enriched milk. WARF has evolved into a patent-management agency, now worth well over a billion dollars, still funneling its income to the University of Wisconsin's research labs.

Source: http://nndb.net/people/808/000166310/

thenewme · February 2010

Why do people continue to insist that "nobody is studying xxxx because they can't patent it and make money from it" ?

Just this morning, I've seen that claim used for baking soda and flaxseed oil for breast cancer treatment. I'm curious about why, exactly, those could not be patented just as vitamin D was in the example posted above, if the evidence was there to support them?

Is there any support for the notion that there is no profit in vitamin/supplement manufacturing and sales?

I see plenty of evidence to the contrary, including this recent example of a huge profit from the manufacturers of Garlique, IcyHot, GoldBond, Dexatrim, and other brands, to a pharmaceutical company (Sanofi Aventis):

**************Quote from Nutrition Business Journal *************************

"January 5, 2010

Chattem Inc., the Tennessee-based company behind the Dexatrim and Sunsource lines of dietary supplements, will soon be under the ownership of Sanofi-Aventis. The French drug maker reported on December 21 that it had agreed to buy Chattem, which makes most of its money selling over-the-counter (OTC) drug products, for approximately $1.9 billion. The deal gives Sanofi a presence in the U.S. OTC drug and supplement markets.

.......

Chattem's total sales in fiscal year 2008 were $423,088, up 7.5% from 2007. Total revenues for the first nine months of fiscal year 2009 were $353.1 million, up 1.1% from $349.4 million in the prior year period."

thenewme · November 2011

Bumping for current discussion

Anonymous · November 2011

Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 are not the same. One is natural and effective and the other isn't. Vitamin D-enriched foods have D2 (the synthetic form).

rosemary-b · November 2011

Nonprescription supplements have D3.

thenewme · November 2011

Re: "Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 are not the same. One is effective and the other isn't. Vitamin D-enriched foods has D2. "

Huh? What does that have to do with patenting vitamins and supplements? The article was a single example of someone wha has done just that, and quite profitably too!

"DeLuca has generated patents prolifically in the course of five decades of research on vitamins A and over 150 in the U.S. and more than 1000 worldwide, producing more than $150 million. "

MariannaLaFrance · November 2011

The patent attorney in my house (hubby) says that the patent exlusion pertains to the application to patent a natural substance as a form of cure, pharmaceutical agent, or medicine. It is possible to fund studies for seeking to develop laboratory-produced replications of a vitamin, mineral or herb, but these replications will not be exact copies of what is found in nature. Many drugs, like aspirin, were first derived from natural substances, but were later reformulated in a laboratory to produce a drug with similar but not exact of copies of these attributes.

In terms of paying for patents, pharmaceutical giants only seek to perpetuate their revenue cycles, i.e. they are interested in a complete supply chain of products to treat patients. Once you have destroyed a pathogen of one nature, pharmaceutical company has produced another to treat the afflictions caused by the first drug. It's a "patient for life" program that has been designed to increase and sustain revenues for the lifetime of the patient. Drug companies are reaching further and further into the population by now seeking children as patients, and will count on them as future revenue sources.

A few years in the industry taught me the supply chain theory on pharmaceutical giants.

thenewme · November 2011

Pharmacognosy isn't exclusive to either pharmaceutical giants OR alternative giants, and neither are profit or corruption.

Supply chain theory applies just as equally to both, don't you think?

What percentage of vitamins and supplements do you suppose are sold in their pristine "natural" form with no reformulation at all?

Take the "natural" substance curcumin, for example. Do a quick search and see how many patented forms of curcumin come up. Each patent-holder wants to claim the superiority of their own patented "exclusive" formulation. Why? Profit. Big Pharma, Big Herba, Big Whatever. Nobody holds the monopoly on greed, and I get tired of hearing the silly excuse that nobody can patent a vitamin or natural substance. It's just not true.

MariannaLaFrance · November 2011

Well, you are absolutely right, thenewme.

MariannaLaFrance · December 2011

After reading your post, with the exception of one area.... the supply chain / product lifecycle management portion. The formulations used in creation of nutritional supplements are not geared at creating damage in a physical system to propogate future use of natural supplements to resolve. The aforementioned "Patient for Life" program is a very real Pharma program aimed at creating a user whose needs evolve over time to need more / different medication.

For example, one might take zinc to bolster a weakened immune system due to diahrrea. One knows that that we can also obtain zinc through our food supply, so while while we build up our reserves of zinc, we might opt to eliminate the supplementation once a desired state is achieved. We have no further need to supplement once a healthy state is obtained, and a good diet is in place.

Now, for the wheel that turns for profit in naturopathic remedies? They are corporations that create a product, drive it to market, and people purchase it. The product has an end-of-life based on need, with no replacement.

Are you passionate about the drug industry? I think I remember you telling us you worked for a lab at one point.

digger · December 2011

Marianna, dear, are you passionate about the Big Herba industry? I seem to recall you perhaps working in that field.

It always boggles my mind why people can't figure out that Big Herba is interested in pulling money from your pockets in exactly the same way as Big Pharma is. Big Herba just interested in your health? Seriously, that would be funny if it didn't hurt so many people.

Anonymous · December 2011

Well, that explains a lot!. thenewme, if you work for BIG Pharma, no wonder you make it your business to discredit supplements on this forum.

Okay role call.....which pharmaceutical companies do work for Digger and Black cat? lolololol Pfizer? AstraZeneka?

MariannaLaFrance · December 2011

Nope, just a tech person here. No interest in pharma and herbs beyond dinnertime discussion.

MariannaLaFrance · December 2011

But, digger, for the record, I worked in Pharma and Chemicals. I had to get out because the lack of regulation and the intentions of that industry (yes, Pharma and Chemicals are often conjoined) are not what I would call ethical.

bluedahlia · December 2011

Hey, I own Big Pharma! I make sure their stocks go up. Gimme Drugs!

digger · December 2011

But Marianna, don't you know how many Big Herba companies are actually owned by Big Pharma?

The paranoia is really coming out tonight.

And princess dear, if you believe that thenewme works for a pharma company just because you read it on the Internet, then that explains a lot about your other theories.

rosemary-b · December 2011

Did I miss something? When did thenewme say she worked for Big Pharma?

digger · December 2011

She didn't. Apparently, shock as it is, anyone can say absolutely anything on the Internet, and it's now gospel truth. Kind of proves a point, huh?

MariannaLaFrance · December 2011

Yep, and some companies like Merck have their own vitamin lines. It's another revenue stream for them.

And yes, I do consume vitamins from mainstream pharma and CPG companies, just the same way I buy gasoline for my car. They produce, I buy. However, I don't agree with the notion of "customer for life" perpetuated by the Pharma industry. I might fault them for pretty ludicrous strategies for keeping a perpetual customer, but I'm a slave to it, just like the rest of us.

Anonymous · December 2011

princess, this one's for you:

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2006/02/what_is_an_altie_2006_edition.php

digger · December 2011

Big Herba produces, and there's always someone willing to buy.

thenewme · December 2011

Whoa - back up! I'm not even sure where to begin!

For the record, no I don't work for a drug lab, but there was a meth lab in a garage across the alley from me growing up - does that count?

As for me working for "Big Pharma," now THAT'S funny!

Am I passionate about the drug industry? Hmmm... I'll have to think about how to answer that one. I'm absolutely passionate about it in the respect that I owe my LIFE, at least in part, to the cancer-treating drugs that I've taken over the past 3 years. I'm completely passionate about the fact that there are a HUGE number of drugs that save lives every single day. So yeah, I guess I am.

Do I agree with everything "Big Pharma" does? Hardly. Do I see lots of room for improvement? Most certainly.

As for the conspiratorial "Patient for Life" thingy, umm..... I'm just not getting how "Big Herba" is any different or better than "Big Pharma."

Anonymous · December 2011

At one point I did too Bluedahlia. Then when I learned how they operate, I was afraid I'd end up in hell so I sold my stocks.

Big Pharma is infamous for rigging drug trials, ghostwriting the reports of "independent" researchers, paying off politicians, doctors, and scientists, and hiding unfavourable reports. One especially revolting example of collusion that occurred a short time ago was the case of Dr. Biederman of Harvard University. He aggressively advocated mind-altering drugs for children while being secretly paid off over $ 1 million from drug companies. Children should be hooked on phonics, not drugs.

Let's not forget that Codex Alimentarious is controlled by Big Pharma whose only objectives are to control humanity, promote disease for profit and sell more and more pharmaceuticals.

thenewme · December 2011

Oh, and since we're doing a "ROLE" call, I wonder how many people here might just happen to be marketers, "associates," MLM "partners," "affiliates," or otherwise personally profit from their recommending specific health-related products, services, and websites?

Anonymous · December 2011

I think it's time for you to take your anti-anxiety pill.

MariannaLaFrance · December 2011

I am a marketer. That's where I gained the knowledge about the chem/pharma industry....and their customer programs. But no MLM here, just the pure stuff. Pure, unadulterated target market, create the message, make-them-buy type of marketer. So am I jaded when I see the "message?" Yes, because I wrote it! Ha ha ha ha!!!

I feel a whole lot better working in the tech industry, I tell ya.

thenewme · December 2011

Awww, Bluedahlia, LMBO!!!!! I LOVE Barbarino!!!

rosemary-b · December 2011

Welcome Back Kotter. I love it

Ang7 · December 2011

That is not a very nice comment for you to make princess123...

A princess should not go around telling people what to do.

Anonymous · December 2011

Ang7, for once, take your head out of your friend's ass and see the light.

Who says you can't make money in vitamin research/patents?

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