Health Enhancement Products, Inc. Receives Notice of Allowance From US Patent Office for Treatment of Disease Using Its Proprietary Algal Phyto-Percolate and Files Two New Patent Applications for Animal Health

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI--(Marketwired - Jun 17, 2013) - Michigan-based natural products developer Health Enhancement Products (OTCBB: HEPI) was advised by the US Patent Office that a US patent will be issued for Application No. 12/067,735 regarding "Composition and Use of Phyto-Percolate for Treatment of Disease" thereby establishing its claims on novel methods of producing and administering products derived from its proprietary algal cultures. In related news, HEPI directed the Arizona office of the law firm of Snell & Wilmer to file a new provisional patent application that potentially expands the use of its proprietary phyto-percolate and derivative compounds to animal health uses, specifically addressing bovine mastitis, bovine respiratory disease complex, transition cow syndrome, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, and canine osteoarthritis -- primarily auto-immune and metabolic disorders. 

The application was prompted by recent genetic tests that revealed certain signaling pathways and gene activation utilizing RNA from an ongoing bovine mastitis study conducted by Dr. Laura Hernandez, a lactation expert and faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Hernandez has been working in vitro with isolated samples of the Company's proprietary bioactive compounds and their effects on primary bovine mammary epithelial cells exposed to inflammatory and infective agents.

In addition, the Company awarded a unit of Covance, a US-based contract research organization, a contract to validate beneficial osteoarthritis efficacy in a canine model, to include in vitro and ex vivo experiments. Preliminary results are expected in the next few weeks. Both studies are being managed by the Company's new director of research & development, Dr. Amy E. Steffek, who joined the firm several weeks ago.

These most recent test results also prompted a request by the Company's CEO to the University of Wisconsin to assess the viability of a urine-based bovine stress and metabolic test. The purpose of the test is to profile animals susceptible to stress-induced conditions that may then progress into infectious diseases or autoimmune disorders. The provisional patent application for such a test was filed on Friday, June 14 by Kohn and Associates, Inc., a patent law firm based in Michigan.

About Health Enhancement Products, Inc.

Health Enhancement Products, Inc. (OTCBB: HEPI) is a Michigan-based health & wellness company engaged in the development of natural bioactive compounds for use as dietary supplements and food ingredients, as well as biologics for medicinal and pharmaceutical applications in humans and animals. The Company's scientific efforts are focused on the metabolic aspects of oxidation and inflammation, with a parallel program to validate and license products for healthy cholesterol balance.

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