Trait Biosciences Secures Breakthrough Patents for Truly Water-soluble Cannabinoids

New Technology Platforms Dramatically Increase Cannabinoid Yields

LOS ALAMOS, N.M., June 25, 2019 /CNW/ -- Trait Biosciences Inc. ("Trait" or the "Company"), the largest integrated bio-technology innovator in the cannabis industry, today announced the US Patent and Trademarks Office ("USPTO") has allowed it patent protection for breakthrough technology platforms that produce truly water-soluble cannabinoids and dramatically increase cannabinoid yields in hemp and cannabis.

The USPTO granted allowance for the Company's Patent Application 16/110,728 entitled "High Level In Vivo Biosynthesis and Isolation of Water-Soluble Cannabinoids in Plant Systems" (the "Patent").  The Patent, which was applied for in August 2018 and allowed in just under one year, gives Trait robust protection over all key technological components for its Distilled™ and Amplified™ technologies.

"This is another pivotal day for us," said Dr. Richard Sayre, Chief Science Officer of Trait. "The allowance of this Patent gives us robust protection over two of our platform technologies — Trait Distilled™ and Trait Amplified™ — which, we are confident, will change the future of the cannabis and hemp industries."

Sayre added: "What makes the allowance of this Patent more gratifying is the scope of protection that the USPTO has given us — the Patent covers every gene/enzyme from all organisms claimed in the Patent. It is uncommon for the USPTO to grant such broad protection over classes of genes and enzymes in this manner. It is a testament to the hard work, innovation and experience of our science team, and the excellent IP strategy that has been developed by our IP counsel."

Trait Distilled™ is the Company's proprietary technology that uses a natural process to convert fat-soluble cannabinoids into cannabinoids that are tasteless, odorless, fully soluble in water and have higher bioavailability than fat-soluble cannabinoids. These characteristics make Trait Distilled™ cannabinoids ideal for use in cannabis and hemp beverages and other products because they are an alternative to the current industry reliance on nano- and micro-emulsion particle technologies. Regulators such as Health Canada, the European Union and the OECD are expressing concern about the use of nanotechnologies, and potentially harmful impacts to human health.

"These patented platforms reinforce Trait's leadership in providing the Hemp and Cannabis Industry the innovative technology needed to develop high-quality products that consumers can trust," added Trait Chief Executive Officer Peter McDonough.  "We're excited to provide our partners the breakthrough solutions associated with this science, which offers a powerful competitive advantage in product development." 

Trait Amplified™ increases plant trichome production, and offers greater photosynthetic efficiency, resulting in cannabinoid yield increases of 2x to 5x higher than conventional plants. Amplified™ also allows plants to produce water-soluble cannabinoids within the plant itself, enabling the extraction of cannabinoids through simple, water-based extraction techniques.  This can replace high-intensity, solvent-based extraction techniques that use toxic chemicals, which can leave unwanted residues.

"The breadth of protection granted to us in this Patent will preclude competitors from attempting to mimic our technologies by using alternative genes to achieve the same outcomes," added Ronan Levy, Chief Strategy Officer at Trait. "It also confirms what we have long expected — that the technologies we are developing at Trait are extremely novel and light years ahead of what the rest of the industry is doing, and offer a dramatic competitive advantage."

The Company is currently in discussions with potential partners to scale up production of its Trait Distilled™ cannabinoids.

About Trait Biosciences

With a team of internationally recognized scientists who are applying best-in-class technology and agricultural science, Trait Biosciences is a global biotechnology leader in the hemp and cannabis industries. Its consumer technology platforms provide breakthrough IP and science which produce enhanced cannabinoids featuring predictable onset timing, superior bioavailability, extended stability and improved taste.  Trait's technologies include a process for generating water-soluble cannabinoids that eliminates the need for emulsion or nanotechnology.  The company is providing advanced agricultural technologies to increase crop yields and plant safety, including ultrahigh yield Amplified™ plants which dramatically increase a plant's natural cannabinoid productivity, and its Defence™ RNAi crop protection technology, which eliminates the need for pesticides or fungicides, providing higher quality safer CBD infused nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information 

Certain information contained in this press release, including any information as to Trait Bioscience Inc.'s (the "Corporation") strategy, projects, plans or future financial or operating performance, constitutes "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words "will", "expect", "continue", "assess", "anticipate" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions; including material estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as at the date of this press release in light of each of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. 

Any forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although management of the Corporation believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

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SOURCE Trait Biosciences Inc.