Burcon Announces Further Patent Grant; Provides Update on Activities

24/01/08 Burcon NutraScience Corporation has announced that it has been granted a United States patent over a process for the production of flax protein isolates. The U.S. Patent - entitled "Process for Preparation of Flax Protein Isolate" (US Patent No. 7,309,773) covers an improved process for the production of flax protein isolates and includes an initial step of removing mucilage from flax seed prior to flax oil and protein removal. The innovations protected by this patent result in a higher protein yield and an improved product.

Burcon now holds a total of 8 U.S. patents which cover canola and flax protein processing technologies and canola protein isolate applications and has a further 34 patent applications currently filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Burcon has filed applications for most of its inventions internationally under the Patent Cooperation Treaty of the World Intellectual Property Organization. Together with patents issued in other countries, Burcon now holds a total of 44 issued patents covering inventions that include the 8 granted U.S. patents. Countries in which Burcon holds issued patents or has filed patent applications include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the European patent office, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, South Korea and the United States. Currently, Burcon has approximately 200 additional patent applications that are being reviewed by the respective patent offices in various countries worldwide. Although Burcon expends significant resources and efforts to patent its discoveries and innovations, there can be no assurances that any of Burcon's patent applications will result in the issuance of patents, or any patents issued to Burcon will provide it with adequate protection or any competitive advantages, or that such patents will not be successfully challenged by any third parties.

Mr. Johann Tergesen, Burcon's President and C.O.O. noted "Burcon's strategy is to ensure that our innovative protein extraction technology, applications of our proteins and the signature characteristics of Burcon's proteins are protected on a worldwide basis. The U.S. patent office's grant of our latest patent further strengthens our intellectual property portfolio."

Burcon, in conjunction with Archer Daniels Midland, continues to focus its development efforts on commercializing its lead canola protein isolate products, Puratein and Supertein. Current development efforts include the large-scale production of Puratein and Supertein to facilitate continued work with ADM's customers through the previously announced material transfer agreements. Burcon's other main initiative is the continuous pursuit of additional intellectual property opportunities. Burcon continues to engage in research activities at its Winnipeg Technical Center directed at optimizing its technologies with the goal of providing additional patenting opportunities in the areas of processing, applications and compound patents.

In June 2007, Burcon announced its intention, in conjunction with its license partner, to pursue regulatory recognition for Puratein and Supertein which process would include certain scientific studies, including toxicology assessments -- such as feeding trials -- to be undertaken by third party contract research organizations. Those feeding trials, along with the required scientific studies, were initiated during the second quarter.

The scientific studies are expected to be completed within the next quarter and are being prepared to a standard to support the United States GRAS affirmation process as well as to enable their use in making application for regulatory approval under the Novel Foods process in the European community and in other countries such as Canada.