Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Star Scientific, Inc., has received the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) Notice of Allowance for claims covering a product formulation that, among other uses, assists in weight loss and also the reduction of tobacco use.  

Application No. 12/826,985, entitled "Nutritional Product Containing Anatabine and Yerba Mate," describes and claims compositions containing a combination of anatabine and yerba mate, as well as the uses of those compositions for assisting in weight loss and in curbing the urge to use tobacco.  

 As is typical in the patent examination process, the Notice of Allowance was issued on July 3, 2012 after the company satisfactorily responded to two prior USPTO office actions.  A written patent will be issued by the USPTO within the next several months, a company press release said.

Paul L Perito, Esq, chairman, president, and chief operating officer of Star Scientific noted, "We are very pleased that the Patent and Trademark Office will issue a second patent to the company this year relating to anatabine and its uses.  As we noted in reporting on the issuance of a patent for the synthesis of anatabine (Patent No. 8,207,346), we continue to pursue other patents relating to product formulations containing anatabine and methods of administering anatabine for the nutritional management of disorders associated with unhealthy levels of inflammation.  When this patent issues, the company will have a portfolio of fifteen US patents and one US design patent."

Star Scientific, Inc. is a technology-oriented company with a mission to promote maintenance of a healthy metabolism, as well as to reduce the harm associated with the use of tobacco at every level. Over the last several years, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, Star Scientific has been engaged in the manufacturing, sale, and marketing of two nutraceutical dietary supplements, and the development of other nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.