DSM-Firmenich wins patent case against Chinese feed firm

CHINA – DSM-Firmenich, a global leader in health, nutrition, and beauty innovation, has secured a favourable judgment in China regarding a patent infringement case against Shandong Haineng Bioengineering Co. Ltd. 

The Qingdao Intermediate People’s Court ruled in favour of DSM-Firmenich, finding Haineng guilty of unlawfully manufacturing, selling, and offering two swine compound premixes containing 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, a technology patented by DSM-Firmenich.  

As a pioneer in producing 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, DSM-Firmenich’s patented Hy-D compound is a major circulating form of vitamin D widely utilised in animal feed to promote livestock health. 

This judgment underscores the company’s commitment to protecting its innovative products, particularly in the highly competitive animal nutrition sector.  

Although DSM-Firmenich welcomed the court’s decision, the company has appealed the judgment, seeking higher compensation for the infringement. Haineng, the defendant, has also filed an appeal, signalling ongoing legal proceedings.  

Fidelis Fru, Head of Business Development for Animal Nutrition & Health at DSM-Firmenich, expressed satisfaction with the ruling:  

“This judgment validates our dedication to safeguarding intellectual property and scientific advancements in the 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 space. We remain committed to defending our innovative ideas and products against infringement.”  

DSM-Firmenich’s Hy-D technology represents a critical advancement in animal nutrition, enabling optimal vitamin D supplementation for livestock.

Such innovations enhance productivity and health in the animal feed sector and reflect the company’s broader mission of providing sustainable solutions for a growing global population.  

Headquartered in Switzerland and the Netherlands, DSM-Firmenich operates in nearly 60 countries and generates over US$12.7 billion annually. 

Its portfolio spans essential nutrients, flavours, fragrances, and scientific solutions tailored for sustainability and human well-being.  

Beyond its legal defence of proprietary technologies, DSM-Firmenich also actively invests in advancing scientific knowledge.

New nutrition research award

In a related announcement, the company unveiled its Nutrition Research Grant program, committing US$264,400 to support five Asia-Pacific researchers investigating gut health solutions.  

The grant, focused on prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), aims to expand understanding of gut microbiome dynamics and their impact on overall health. 

Award recipients from countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea will explore immune modulation, metabolic health, and mental wellness topics, among others.  

Senior Vice President Tina Low emphasised the program’s importance, saying,

“The Nutrition Research Grant embodies our mission of fostering collaboration with the scientific community to deliver tailored, science-backed solutions. Understanding the effects of our health-from-the-gut ingredients in diverse regions is critical to developing efficacious products.” 

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