Sabinsa Corporation is now in its nineteenth year. 2006 was an eventful year for us. We received four US patents and two international patents, and continued to expand research efforts towards serving preventive and other health care needs in populations across the world. Glaucoma is a progressively degenerative disease of the optic nerve and is the second-leading cause of blindness in the world, affecting 67 million people globally. Sabinsa’s patented process helped to create a stable and safe solution of forskolin for ophthalmic use as a drug in treating glaucoma. We were granted permission by the Drugs Controller General of India to manufacture and market Ocufors an ophthalmic solution containing one percent forskolin, for the treatment of glaucoma. This is the first time that the government of India has approved a product developed by a private organization, from natural sources, for use as a pharmaceutical grade drug.
We continued to work with research institutes and universities at various geographical locations, to validate the safety and efficacy of our branded natural extracts and nutritional ingredients. A study with our Curcumin C3 Complex® at UCLA showed promising results in the potential prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, another at Vanderbilt University further confirmed the safety of SeleniumSeLECT® (L-Selenomethionine) for supplemental use in selenium replete populations.
We expanded operations in Europe and South East Asia, opening new offices in Langen, Germany and in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Our research group at Sami Labs Ltd. Bangalore, India, undertook several custom synthesis, clinical research and contract R & D projects for global manufacturing companies last year. Clinical research projects were facilitated through the company's contract research arm, ClinWorld. Our expanded manufacturing facilities in Payson, Utah, will become operational in February 2007.
As a supplier of raw ingredients, we will continue in our efforts to establish and maintain quality standards, clinically validating ingredient health claims, and educating consumers on the health benefits of phytonutrients and nutritional actives. We have just completed our 3rd year of NSF audits for our manufacturing facilities. We will keep the spirit of innovation alive in the industry through sustained intellectual property creation and protection efforts. As always, we look forward to working with you this year and in the years to come, to bring quality dietary supplements, functional foods, cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics to the global marketplace.
I take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy and Healthy 2007.
