INTRODUCES PEAZAZZ™ - PEA PROTEIN ISOLATE
VANCOUVER,
Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Burcon
NutraScience Corporation (TSX:BU) (NASDAQ:BUR) ("Burcon" or the
"Company") announces today that it has developed a novel pea
protein isolate. Burcon has branded this new protein as
Peazazz™.
Peazazz™ is 100% soluble and transparent in low pH
solutions with clean flavour characteristics and is heat stable
permitting hot fill applications. Burcon's Peazazz™ could be
used in a variety of healthy and flavourful consumer product
applications and should be of interest to companies looking for a
great tasting functional alternative plant protein ingredient.
Pea protein is a relatively new, vegetable-based,
functional protein ingredient valued for its emulsifying
properties. Pea proteins currently available in the market
are sold for use in a variety of food products including: snacks
and cereals; diet products (high protein foods); gluten-free and
vegetarian and vegan foods.
"Burcon is a leader in nutrition, health and
wellness in the field of functional, renewable plant proteins and
today's announcement further demonstrates Burcon's capability."
said Johann F. Tergesen, Burcon's
President and C.O.O. adding, "Our team of scientists and
engineers has once again proven their ability to push the envelope
in developing unique plant protein ingredients with our first
protein from a source other than oilseeds. Our new Peazazz™
protein offers yet another platform for Burcon to monetize our
technology."
Burcon also announces today that it is engaged in
discussions with a potential partner to commercialize Peazazz™ and
the associated protein extraction technology. In that regard,
Burcon has entered into a confidentiality and material transfer
agreement to facilitate these discussions.
Burcon has filed patent applications with the
United States Patent and Trademark Office to protect its newly
developed novel processes for the production of pea protein
isolates, as well as to protect Peazazz™, the product derived
therefrom, and to protect the functional and nutritional
applications of Peazazz™ as an ingredient in consumer
products. Consistent with Burcon's previous patents and
patent applications, Burcon has also filed for protection
internationally under the patent cooperation treaty of the World
Intellectual Property Organization to protect these new
inventions. As at the date of this announcement, Burcon now
has 174 issued patents worldwide including 30 issued U.S. patents,
and in excess of 300 additional patent applications, 70 of which
are U.S. patent applications.
About Burcon NutraScience
Burcon is a leader in nutrition, health and wellness in the field
of functional, renewable plant proteins. Since 1999, Burcon has
developed a portfolio of composition, application, and process
patents originating from our core protein extraction and
purification technology. We are developing Puratein®, Supertein™
and Nutratein™ canola protein isolates with unique functional and
nutritional attributes; CLARISOY™, a revolutionary soy
protein isolate with exceptional nutritional and flavor profiles
which is 100% soluble and transparent in low pH solutions; and
Peazazz™ a uniquely soluble and clean-tasting pea protein isolate.
Our team of highly specialized scientists and engineers work from
our private research facility to develop and optimize
environmentally sound technologies. To-date, our patent portfolio
consists of 174 issued patents in various countries, including 30
issued U.S. patents, and in excess of 300 additional pending patent
applications, 70 of which are U.S. patent applications.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"Johann F. Tergesen"
Johann F. Tergesen
President and Chief Operating Officer
CLARISOY is a trademark of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy of the content of the information
contained herein. This press release contains forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These
forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and
timing for the introduction or enhancement of our products,
statements about future market conditions, supply and demand
conditions, and other expectations, intentions and plans contained
in this press release that are not historical fact. Our
expectations regarding the prospect for future success depend upon
our ability to develop and sell products, which we do not produce
today and cannot be sold without further research and development
or reliance on our development partner. When used in this press
release, the words "goal", "intend", "believes" and "potential" and
similar expressions, generally identify forward-looking statements.
These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject
to a number of risks and uncertainties.
SOURCE Burcon NutraScience Corporation