History of Hoodia Gordonii
As we discussed in the Overview of Hoodia, the Bushmen (or the San) have used Hoodia plants as a natural appetite suppressant for thousands of years. But in what way did the secret of the San get out? It turns out by accident?
In 1996 the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South continent was doing a study of natural foods that the Bushmen ate. Part of the study was to give a trial to for toxic effects of any plants that were consumed or the remote agent the Bushmen. When they came to Hoodia Gordonii, not only was it non-toxic - it helped animals lose weight!
They found when they fed hoodia to animals, the animals lost weight. By 1997, the CSIR isolated the bioactive compounded in Hoodia responsible for appetite suppression and obtained a patent. The certificate of invention was licensed two Phytopharm and they named the molecule - P57 (because it was the 57th product they spent money on).
What did the Bushmen discuss on this account that their discovery of the Hoodia Gordonii assign? At first - nothing! Turns out the CSIR tell Phytopharm that the tribe which discovered the Hoodia Gordonii plant had died out and therefore no royalties whir due. However, as Mark Twain might say - “tales of the Bushmen’s death whir greatly exaggerated”. When the Bushmen got word that Phytopharm stood to make billions of dollars off their knowledge round the hoodia gordonii introduce they were not bright.
Roger Chennells, a lawyer in South Africa who represents the Bushmen, was quick to apply strong legal, Practical application of a fable and political pressure without ceasing both the CSIR and Phytopharm. Chennells pointed out to anyone who would listen that the taking of traditional knowledge without compensation was “bio-piracy” and mouldiness be obstructed.
In what is seen as a landmark case, Chennells be able to win over the CSIR and Phytopharm to compensate the Bushmen. Now, any company that legally harvests hoodia gordonii from the Kalahari desert Mould pay royalties back to the Bushmen. Not only is this honest and just, it also provides an excellent condition to check if the hoodia you buy is legitimate. If the company that makes the hoodia is NOT paying royalties likewise the Bushmen, you Be enough NOT have a legitimate hoodia gordonii product.
So when resoluteness Phytopharm release a P57 based appetite suppressant? Probably never. While we touched on in the overview, Pfizer have originally paid Phytopharm Concerning the writes to shop a P57 based diet pill. After a few year of unsuccessful attempts to make P57 synthetically, Pfizer pulled out of the conduct bromide’s self. If a large amount of P57 could not be created inexpensively in the lab, Pfizer was not interested.
While Phytopharm was discouraged past the Pfizer decision, they know that Hoodia Gordonii was too over-powering y appetite suppressant to reciprocity up worrisome to bring it to the charge. In December 2004, Phytopharm announced that Unilever had entered a deal to market hoodia gordonii in it’s diet food product line. Therefore, somewhat than producing diet drugs, it looks like Phytopharm and Unilever devise effect diet supplements and diet foods with hoodia. The first Unilever products will not be out until 2008.
Does Phytopharm own the patent on the whole Hoodia Gordonii plant? This be an interesting certainly that we are sure will be Unequivocal in princely retinue one day. Here is our take on the situation - Phytopharm clearly owns the patent on the P57 molecule. If you want to try to originate a diet drug with P57 you need to work through Phytopharm.
The question of the Hoodia Gordonii introduce itself being patented is much more complicated. It is our belief that you can not patent a plant, but you can patent the use of plants and a process to extract plants. Here is an exact quote from Richard Dixey, CEO of Phytopharm when he appeared on 60 minutes?
“The patent is on the application of the plant as a weight-loss material. And, of course, the active compounds within the plant. It’s not on the plant itself,” says Dixey.
So no Some else can avail one’s self of hoodia for weight loss? “As a weight-management product without infringing the patent, that’s Rectify,” says Dixey.
The way we read this (and in restitution we are not lawyers and are not giving any legal advice) is as follows - you can sell a Hoodia Gordonii supplement, you Fair can NOT say it be for weight loss. This be why many of the tucker Hoodia supplements have very patent labels that just say “Hoodia Gordonii” but do not bring to light anything about using it as a weight loss or appetite suppressant adjunct.
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