Innovation in probiotics has dramatically increased in the past 20 years. As new connections are made between probiotics and health and wellbeing, the rate of applications filed continues to increase, and has now reached more than 10,000 patent applications throughout the world. The increasing rate of filing shows inventions continue to be discovered.

While most applications have been filed in the leading patent offices of the United States, Europe and China, a great deal of interest in probiotic innovation flows throughout the world. Most applications have been published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Since 2011, 600 nutritional supplements trademark applications and registrations have been filed with the term “probiotic" in the listing of goods and services. Before 2011, fewer than 300 registrations fit these parameters. Regarding applications, 1,469 were filed since 2011 that include “probiotics" in the listing of goods compared to 594 applications filed before 2011.

Learn more about probiotic intellectual property (IP) and the rest of the market in INSIDER’s Probiotic Ingredient Science Digital Magazine.

Get in-depth insights on probiotic science and formulation considerations, as well as issues to consider for an effective go-to-market strategy at Probiotics Marketplace, a day-and-a-half event on April 18 and 19 as part of Ingredient Marketplace in Orlando. Probiotics Marketplace is produced with the International Probiotics Association (IPA), the premier underwriter is Nutraceutix, and additional support is provided by BIO-CAT and Sabinsa Corp.

Attorney Andreas Baltatzis is a director at KramerAmado PC, a boutique law firm specializing in intellectual property (IP). He represents a number of innovative nutritional supplement and nutraceutical companies that improve people’s lives every day. Baltatzis also helps companies prepare and implement IP strategies by obtaining patents and trademarks that protect their innovations and cash flow, as well as advising clients on successfully launching new products and brands.

Gideon Eckhouse is a senior associate at KramerAmado, with more than 10 years of experience in patents and trademarks. He assists innovative nutritional supplement and nutraceutical companies in protecting their IP throughout the world. Eckhouse counsels and implements global trademark strategies for new brand launches. Additionally, he prepares and prosecutes patent portfolios protecting new products coming to market.