US 12252506

Analysis of U.S. Patent 12,252,506

Washington, D.C. - A detailed analysis of United States Patent 12,252,506 has been conducted. This patent pertains to novel methods for the preparation of nicotinamide riboside (NR) and its derivatives, which are crucial precursors to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a vital coenzyme in cellular metabolism.

Key Patent Details:

• Title: Methods of preparing nicotinamide riboside and derivatives thereof.
• Assignee: The Queen's University of Belfast. Recent press releases indicate that Niagen Bioscience, Inc. holds an exclusive license for this patent.
• Inventors: Marie Migaud, Philip Redpath, Kerri Crossey, and Mark Doherty.
• Filing Date: April 26, 2023.
• Issue Date: March 18, 2025.
• Abstract: The patent discloses methods for preparing compounds of formula (I), which encompasses nicotinamide riboside and its derivatives, with a specific focus on controlling the associated anion. The process involves reacting a compound of formula (II) with a compound Z+X- in the presence of an aqueous solution and a carbon-containing catalyst.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

U.S. Patent 12,252,506 contains four independent claims which are summarized below in simplified terms:

• Claim 1: This claim protects a specific chemical compound, designated as formula (IV), or its beta-anomer form. This compound is a derivative of nicotinamide riboside where the ribose sugar has certain chemical modifications (hydroxyl-protecting groups) and is paired with a specific set of anions (negatively charged ions), excluding formate. This claim essentially covers a specific chemical entity.

• Claim 6: This claim is also directed to a compound of formula (IV) or its beta-anomer. It is similar to claim 1, but the defining feature is that the anion (X-) is specifically an anion of a substituted or unsubstituted aminodicarboxylic acid. This narrows the scope of the protected compound to a particular class of salts.

• Claim 13: This claim outlines a method for making a pure form of the compound from claim 1 (specifically, the beta-D-ribofuranosyl isomer). The method involves starting with a trifluoromethanesulfonate salt of the compound and swapping the trifluoromethanesulfonate anion with a different, desired anion (X-). This is achieved by reacting it with a salt (Z+X-), where Z+ is a nitrogen-containing cation. This claim protects a specific chemical process.

• Claim 18: Similar to claim 13, this claim describes a method for producing an isomerically pure compound of formula (IV). However, it is more specific than claim 13, as it is limited to creating nicotinamide riboside itself (where R1 is -NH2) with a broader range of possible anions, excluding trifluoromethanesulfonate. The process still involves an anion exchange reaction using a nitrogen-containing cation.

Litigation Search:

A search of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for the year 2026 did not reveal any pending or recent litigation involving U.S. Patent 12,252,506. However, it is important to note that the patent was issued in March 2025, and litigation can arise at any point during a patent's term.