According to Anhui the method described in the patent - number ZL 2015 1 0592520.0 – produces a soluble form of starch that is stable and is compliant with standard set out in the 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
The patent protects the method for 20 years.
In a statement Anhui said although the new patent will not have a significant impact on its current operations, the underlying technology further expands its intellectual property portfolio.
Pharma response
Huainan-based Anhui makes excipients for the drug and food industries.
The firm generated revenue of CNY283m ($41.5m) in 2016, up 10.15% year on year. Net income for the 12 months ended December 31, 2016 was CNY48.78m up 10.19%.
In contrast, revenue and net income were down in the first quarter of 2017, falling 8.17% to CNY17m and 8.89% to CNY11.6m, respectively. In its quarterly statement Anhui attributed the decline to higher materials costs.
The firm also said it planned to respond by expanding its pharmaceutical excipients business, stating specifically that “the division will win customer recognition and improve product pricing by improving product quality and improving service levels.”