Benzinga | Nov 4, 2021 06:40AM EDT

Biomerica Reports Received Notice Of Allowance From Canadian Patent Office For Patent Covering Irritable Bowel Syndrome Food Sensitivity Testing & Treatment

* Studies show that 13-20% of Canadians suffer from IBS at any given time1.

* The lifetime risk for a Canadian to develop IBS is 30%1.

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biomerica, Inc. (NASDAQ:BMRA) today announced that the Canadian Patent Office has issued a notice of allowance for Biomerica's patent application pertaining to the Company's InFoods(r) diagnostic guided therapy platform technology that offers a novel approach in the treatment of patients suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome ("IBS"). IBS is a chronic, often debilitating, functional gastrointestinal ("GI") disorder with symptoms that include abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel behaviors, such as constipation and/or diarrhea, or alternating between the two.

This allowed patent contains claims that broadly cover a method that enables physicians to identify patient-specific foods, such as egg, shrimp, broccoli, etc., that, when removed from the patient's diet, may alleviate or improve an individual's IBS symptoms, including constipation, diarrhea, bloating, severe cramping, pain, and indigestion.

"Effective treatment for IBS sufferers is a massive unmet medical need around the globe. Our long-term goal is to be an international leader in helping this patient population. To that end, in addition to advancing our InFoods IBS(r) technology through clinical trials here in the U.S., we are staying focused building and strengthening our global intellectual property portfolio for our entire portfolio of unique InFoods diagnostic-guided therapies." said Zack Irani, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biomerica. "This patent provides broad protection around tests and methods used to determine patient-specific foods that may trigger IBS symptoms, and includes additional claims that cover a diagnostic-guided therapy for IBS patients." Mr. Irani concluded, "InFoods(r) is a disruptive technology platform that can redefine the treatment of GI diseases such as IBS, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Functional Dyspepsia, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. IBS is the most common diagnosis made by gastroenterologists and is the seventh most common diagnosis made by all physicians. In addition, we have filed digital health patents for applications that will assist patients with managing their dietary restrictions as defined by the InFoods(r) technology."

Biomerica now has 11 patents issued worldwide of which two are granted in the US. This Canadian patent joins recently issued Mexican patent #385004, Japanese patent #6681907, and Korean patent #10-1887545 covering compositions, devices, and methods for IBS sensitivity testing. All of the Company's InFoods(r) related issued and allowed patents expire in the year 2036 or later. The Company has a growing portfolio of international and US patent allowances and applications in prosecution related to the InFoods(r) IBS product, as well as multiple applications that cover the use of our InFoods(r) Technology in other diseases.