Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. hereby announces that a judgment was rendered on December 16, 2021 on an action seeking the revocation of a trial decision concerning the company's patent right for equol-containing foods (Patent Registration No. 6275313; Title of Invention: Equol-containing extract and method for producing the same, equol extraction method, and food containing equol; hereinafter the "Patent Right"). The judgment accepts the company's arguments and maintains the validity of the Patent Right.
Otsuka will continue to vigorously defend and protect its inventions in relevant fields of technology, and provide safe and high-quality products and information to support people's health based on scientific evidence.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Foods Containing Equol

EQUELLE was launched in April of 2014 as the supplement containing equol, made by fermenting a soy isoflavone component with lactic acid bacterium. The product was initially sold as a basic supplement to support the health and beauty of women aged 40 and over. The EQUELLE product line has since been expanded by the addition of equol-containing Equelle Gelée and tocoelle, products developed to support women during different life-stage transitions.

* Court

Intellectual Property High Court

Case number

2020 (Gyo-Ke) #10150

Case name

Appeal proceedings to decision of Japan Patent Office

Plaintiff

Daicel Corporation

Additional plaintiff

Advanced Medical Care Inc.

Defendant

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.