Mannatech Launches First Phase of Singapore Expansion

Mannatech, Incorporated announced today it has begun selling products in Singapore as of November 1.

With this opening, independent sales Associates are eligible for enrollment in Singapore. To commemorate the opening of the company’s 12^th international market, a flag raising ceremony will take place at Mannatech headquarters in Coppell, Texas, in early November.

“The opening of Singapore is a great achievement for our company as we look toward continued international growth and success,” said Wayne Badovinus, president and CEO of Mannatech. “With our updated computer infrastructure, we are able to streamline international operations and simplify entry into new markets around the globe.”

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Mannatech Awarded Over $700,000 in Legal Fees From Legal Victory over Glycoproducts

Mannatech, Inc. has been awarded over $700,000 dollars in attorneys fees as a result of a recent legal dispute with Glycoproducts International.

Judge Jeff Kaplan of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Texas order Glycoproducts to pay $773,347 in legal fees for the successful prosecution of its infringement claims for Mannatech’s Ambrotose products.

In July of 2008 a judge handed down a ruling that Glycobiotics infringed on two of Mannatech’s patents concerning Mannatech’s Ambrotose products. The case had been ongoing for almost 2 years, originally filed in March of 2006. As part of the ruling, Glycobiotics had to immediately stop producing and selling the products specified in the case as well as deliver said products to Mannatech directly for destruction.

“Mannatech has demonstrated that it will fight to protect its intellectual property. The Court’s award of more than $770,000 in attorneys’ fees, along with the Court’s previous entry of a final judgment and permanent injunction, is further notice to all interested parties that we will do what is necessary to support our products and our independent sales Associates in the field,” said Keith Clark, senior vice president and general counsel of Mannatech.

Mannatech Continues Commitment to Product Quality with Two Additional Certifications from NSF International

NSF Also Certifies That Mannatech's Manufacturer Meets Good Manufacturing Practices COPPELL, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mannatech, Incorporated (NASDAQ: MTEX - News) today announced that the purity of Mannatech’s PLUS™ and Ambrotose AO® glyconutritional supplements has been certified to show they meet their label claims for ingredients and purity by NSF International, an independent, accredited testing organization. In June, Mannatech received certifications from NSF for its Ambrotose® and Advanced Ambrotose™ products.

The products were certified according to the NSF/ANSI 173 Dietary Supplement Standard—the only American National Standard for dietary supplements. Mannatech intends to carry the NSF certification mark on the supplements’ labels and promotional materials to demonstrate compliance.

“Mannatech is committed to pursuing the highest standards of product quality and science. Not only did we earn NSF certification, but we ensure all our manufacturing partners adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), our industry’s standards for ensuring high quality products,” said Marika Berkley, vice president of global regulatory affairs and quality assurance for Mannatech. “Customers need to know that our products always meet these high standards and that they will never be compromised.”

NSF International—a not-for-profit, public health certification organization—ensures a product’s label reflects the contents of the supplement, that all ingredients are openly disclosed on the label and that the product’s purity is acceptable. Additionally, NSF assesses each manufacturing site to ensure it complies with GMPs; NSF will not certify a product unless the manufacturer meets all the rigorous audit requirements.

“By obtaining certification for two additional products, Mannatech continues to demonstrate its dedication and commitment to excellence,” said Ed Wyszumiala, general manager of NSF’s dietary supplements programs.

Mannatech will continue working with NSF to certify additional products in Mannatech’s portfolio.

Mannatech Donates $10,000 in Hurricane Relief Supplies to Houston

Mannatech Inc. Fills Truck with 5,400 Pounds of Supplies to Help Victims COPPELL, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mannatech, Incorporated (NASDAQ:MTEX - News), a leading developer and provider of dietary supplements and skin care solutions, provided a mass donation to benefit Houston residents affected by Hurricane Ike on Friday, Sept. 19, 2008. The donation included $10,000 of food and water, in addition to nearly 6,000 boxes of Mannatech nutritional supplement products.

Mannatech CEO Wayne Badovinus and other executives were on hand Friday morning as the company loaded a truck filled with 5,400 pounds of relief supplies for victims. The company worked with State Representative Senfronia Thompson to identify relief stations most in need. Five Mannatech staff members traveled to northeast Houston to help distribute the supplies.

“Having been in business in Texas for the past 15 years we believe it’s important to help fellow Texans in need,” said Wayne Badovinus, president and CEO of Mannatech. “Helping others is a way of life for our employees and represents the heart of our company.”

Mannatech staff selected two products, MannaBears™ supplements and MannaBars™ nutrition bars, to send the children and adults affected by the hurricane. MannaBears™ supplements deliver the phytonutritional goodness of ten different dehydrated fruit and vegetable powders, including pomegranate juice, which is recognized as an excellent antioxidant. MannaBars™ nutrition bars are low-glycemic whole-food nutrition bars, containing soluble fiber and omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Biochemists Receive $1.2 Million Grant

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Emory University biochemists David Smith and Richard Cummings a $1.2 million grant through four years Aug. 1.

The grant is part of the NIH program for Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration (EUREKA) that enables researchers to take on high-risk projects.

The project, titled “Shotgun Glycomics: Linking Glycan Structure and Function,” is a combination of 15 years of accumulated thoughts about ways of screening glycans to define their structures, Smith said.

“We wanted to work in this area because we think that protein carbohydrate interactions are extremely important in normal biological situations,” Smith said.

Check out the article...

Didn't Think This Would Happen!

Healthy Lifestyle May Provide Extra 14 years of Life

Eat your daily fruits and veggies, don't smoke, stay active, and drink in moderation. Hmmm, sounds like a radical life changing regimen. Actually its not folks! People can add as much as 14 years to their lives if they adopt the above four principles for a healthy lifestyle.

Those who practice just four healthy habits/behaviors may live 14 years longer than those who don't, according to a report from Cambridge University.

More than 20,000 participants between the ages of 45 and 79 years were followed for an average of 11 years. Questionnaires awarded one point for not smoking, being physically active, consuming alcohol in moderation, and having a plasma vitamin C level consistent with eating five servings of vegetables or fruit per day.

Those who scored no points on the questionnaires were four times more likely to die than those who scored four points, and those with a score of two were twice as likely to die. Participants whose score was zero had the same risk of dying as subjects who were 14 years older who had practiced all four healthy behaviors.

The researchers said: “These results may provide further support for the idea that even small differences in lifestyle may make a big difference to health in the population and encourage behaviour change.”

Study: Americans Drinking Less Alcohol

Average Alcohol Intake Drops in 50-Year Study; With Age, Participants Turn From Beer to Wine

"Americans may be drinking less alcohol, on average, than in the past -- and they're cutting back on beer and sipping more wine as they get older."

So says a story from CBS News, courtesy of WebMD. It's based on a recent study in the American Journal of Medicine.

That finding comes from 50 years of drinking data reported by 8,600 white adults in Framingham, Mass., the home of a long-term health study.

Participants, born from 1900 to 1959, joined the study when they were at least 28 years old. Over the decades, they repeatedly answered questions about their lifestyle and health, including their alcohol use.

Men and women in each generation drank less as they got older. And each generation drank less than previous generations, with heavier drinking giving way to moderate drinking.

If you're worried about your own alcohol consumption, err on the side of caution. You can even take this quiz from AlcoholScreening.org: How much is too much?

Here's a story, A drink a day, from Health writer Susan Brink explaining the health benefits of alcohol.

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Team Mannatech Athlete Nancy Lieberman Signs Seven-day Contract with the Detroit Shock

Team Mannatech member and basketball legend Nancy Lieberman has signed a seven-day contract with the Detroit Shock. Lieberman, age 50, in an almost unprecedented move, was asked to play for the team during its temporary loss of Cheryl Ford due to an injury.

"In 1997, when I was trying to come back to basketball at the tender age of 38, no one thought I could do it," Lieberman said. "Using Mannatech products, I was able to improve my performance and become a successful player in the WNBA. Today, I'm the only woman in the WNBA who is playing professional basketball at age 50 and I enjoy telling my players, friends and family about the success I've had with Mannatech products."

Check out article...

Scientists at UT Discover Glycoprotein Envelope to Fight AIDS

Scientists at the University of Texas have discovered that the glycoprotein envelope on the HIV virus can be manipulated to save the lives of millions of AIDS patients. This exciting new information brings additional understanding and validity to the years of research in glycomics dating back to the mid 1980s.

Check out the article! Pathologists Believe They Have Pinpointed Achilles Heel Of HIV

Team Mannatech Athlete Wins World Titles and Sets World Record

Chip Townsend recently won three world titles and set a new world record at the U.S. Open World International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) Martial Arts Tournament. The annual event took place July 4 and 5 in Orlando, Fla., showcasing more than 3,000 martial artists from around the globe in front of approximately 8,000 spectators. After competing for the world titles in power wood kicking and power concrete, Townsend broke his forearm during his creative routine. He pushed through the pain of his injury to win the creative division and break a world record in the combat board breaking division. Townsend set the new world record by breaking 36 boards (the previous record was 27 boards).

Judge validates both Mannatech Ambrotose patents in case against Glycoproducts International

Magistrate Judge Jeff Kaplan in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, issued a Memorandum Opinion finding that Glycoproducts International Inc., (Glycobiotics) infringed both Mannatech patents at issue in the case (U.S. Patent No.6,929,807 and U.S. Patent No. 7,157,431). This ruling resolves all issues in this case with Mannatech winning on all patent and trademark infringement claims brought against Glycobiotics.

"We have always firmly believed that this was an unlawful infringement of our patents and we were committed to pursuing this case as far as was necessary to stop this injustice," said Keith Clark, Mannatech's senior vice president and general counsel. "This is a great win for our independent sales Associates who have worked so hard to defend Mannatech's products and their effectiveness against imitators in the marketplace. These affirmations by the judge and the jury should send a message to anyone else infringing our patents that we will do what is necessary to protect our intellectual property and our Associates."

14 Olympians taking Glyconutritional Supplements

Jayson Jones, a Washington, D.C.-based 30-year-old set to compete in the 200-meter race in Beijing next month, is one of 14 athletes using glyconutritional products who have qualified for the Olympics so far. Mr. Jones said he uses a blend of enzymes and plant cell membranes marketed as reducing soreness and stiffness.

Mr. Jones and the 13 other athletes take only Mannatech products, according to Butch Johnson, a former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver who leads Team Mannatech.

Check out the article...

New CEO for Leading Company in Glyconutritionals

Mannatech Inc., the global leader in glyconutritional supplements and skin care products, has tapped retail industry veteran Wayne L. Badovinus as chief executive officer and president.

Beginning June 16, Badovinus will replace Terry Persinger, who was serving as interim CEO. Mannatech founder and Chairman Sam Caster resigned as CEO in August 2007.

Persinger will stay on Mannatech as an employee reporting to the board on projects assigned over the next three years, the Coppell-based company said.

Badovinus has 43 years of experience in consumer brands and has held senior management positions with a number of retail and catalog companies, according to Mannatech. He was president and CEO of Eddie Bauer from 1987 to 1992 and Acme Boot Co. from 1994 to 1997. He also was CEO of furniture retailer Design Within Reach from 2000 to 2005, growing it to a $150 million company in five years and overseeing the company's public stock offering in June 2004. In addition, Badovinus was chief operating officer for Williams-Sonoma in 1986 and 1987. Most recently, Badovinus was senior operating partner for JH Partners, a private equity firm.

"Wayne has proven experience leading and managing consumer companies through dynamic growth," J. Stanley Fredrick, lead director of Mannatech's board, said in a statement. "His track record with high-end brands like Eddie Bauer illustrates his potential to grow market share for Mannatech. Under Wayne's leadership we will enhance our domestic presence and continue expansion efforts in global markets."

HIV is Subject to Sugars

I found a forum called 'The Endowment for Medical Research.' I thought this post was interesting as it stated "Tomorrow, every ailment, every disease, will require improving the immune system with what I call ROYAL SUGARS in my book, Expand Your Mind - Improve Your Brain."

Check out what it says about the connection with HIV and sugars...

Comments by J. C. Spencer

Twenty years ago the science community scoffed at the thought that sugars had any medical value or application. Coming out of France is this abstract on HIV stating that today it is well established that the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is subject to sugar on the cell surface in the form of glycoprotein receptor sites.

A generation (about forty years) is the normal time for a great new idea or a life changing new discovery to catch on and become accepted. We are half way there and the doctors of tomorrow will embrace glycomics. Glycomics is growing quite rapidly in both knowledge and acceptance. Nearly 450,000 references to published papers can be found in the word search of GLYCOPROTEIN on the NIH (National Institutes of Health) website www.PubMed.gov. Only a few doctors know anything about glycomics and most have not even heard of such sugars.

...Now here is the Abstract from a paper to be published next week.

Sugar Linkage Could Lead To Better Treatment For Autoimmune Diseases

ScienceDaily (May 15, 2008) — Researchers at the University of New Hampshire Glycomics Center have helped identify a specific carbohydrate structure that confers anti-inflammatory activity to a glycoprotein antibody that could lead to improved treatment of autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. The study, reported in a recent edition of the journal Science, was led by immunologist Jeffrey Ravetch of Rockefeller University.

"Carbohydrates are the glue that pulls things together, the cell surface matrix in which cells communicate, and they provide the connections for signal transduction. It's only been within the last decade that we've realized that such structures are critical for all kinds of biological function," says Reinhold. "Now that we can define precise structures, we can begin to understand their function. This structure-functional relationship will have a huge impact on our health in respect to immune regulation."

read more...

Analysis of Nerve Cell Damage and Repair using Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics, Glycomics and Systems Biology

UBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c91485) has announced the addition of "Neural Degeneration and Repair: Gene Expression Profiling, Proteomics and Systems Biology" to their offering.

With contributions from leading scientists around the world, this is the first book focussing on the analysis of nerve cell damage and repair using genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, glycomics and systems biology in order to develop novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches for neural diseases.

Following an introduction into the microarray technology in translational neuroscience, the book goes on to look at the use of '-omics' technologies to analyse molecular changes in traumatic injury, neuron degeneration and regeneration, oxidative stress response, neuropathic pain manifestation, and more. The work covers central nervous system as well as peripheral nervous system pathologies. This novel approach makes the book an indispensable companion for neurobiologists, neurologists, cell and molecular biologists, geneticists, and analytical chemists.


Key Discussions:

- INTRODUCTION

- REACTIONS OF PERIPHERAL NERVE TO TRAUMATIC INJURY AND AXON REGENERATION

- CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM TRAUMA AND NEURODEGENERATION

- GLYCOMIC TECHNOLOGIES APPLIED TO NERVOUS SYSTEM FUNCTION

The Author is Hans Werner Müller who has been Professor of Molecular Neurobiology at Düsseldorf University since 1993. From 2001 onwards he has acted as the founder of the Neuraxo Biotec GmbH company, where he is also Chairman of the board of directors. He has published more than 150 scientific articles in the field of neurobiology and neuroscience and is an active member of many scientific societies including the American Society for Neurosciences, and the German Society for Neuroscience, where he is chairman of the molecular neurobiology section.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c91485

Jury Validates Key Mannatech Technology Patents Involving Its Ambrotose (R) Glyconutrients Products

Glycoproducts International Inc., found to have committed patent and trademark infringement

A federal court jury in the Northern District of Texas found that Glycoproducts International Inc. had committed infringement of Mannatech's patent and trademark relating to Ambrotose(R).

The jury found Glycoproducts International Inc. had committed patent infringement on Mannatech's U.S. Patent No. 7,157,431. The jury found that this infringement was willful, and also ruled in favor of Mannatech on all patent validity issues presented to the jury. In addition, the jury ruled in favor of Mannatech relative to trademark infringement claims made in the case. Based on these rulings, Mannatech will also be pursuing an immediate injunction prohibiting Glycoproducts International Inc. from further engaging in the production, distribution and sale of its Glycomannan product, as well as the reimbursement of Mannatech's legal fees on this matter.

"We are extremely pleased by these outcomes and will continue to vigorously defend our technology and cutting-edge research and development in the groundbreaking field of glyconutrients," said Terry Persinger, president and CEO of Mannatech. "With 45 registered patents, five in the U.S. and 40 more internationally, and an additional 85 patents pending worldwide, we believe these favorable rulings reinforce our leadership position as a developer and provider of high-quality nutritional supplements."

The case stems from a suit filed by Mannatech in March 2006 against Glycoproducts International, formerly Glycobiotics International Inc., asserting that the company infringed on certain Mannatech Ambrotose patents originally issued in 2005 and 2007.

"A company's ability to stop patent infringement requires not only the issuance of a patent, but also a favorable court interpretation of the patent and a defense of its validity," said Keith Clark, general counsel at Mannatech. "This decision, coupled with the company's successful outcomes in the Markman hearing rulings last year, paves the way for protecting these critical Mannatech technology patents moving forward."

Effectiveness of Pre-Exercise Performance Drink

A study was done on a proprietary blend of ingredients for a sports drink which showed an increased aerobic function as marked by increases in length of time trials to exhaustion. It basically means enhanced energy and cardiorespiratory fitness was achieved.

I personally take this before I play racquetball or an intense weight training session.

The product is a produced by the leader in Glyconutritional supplements.

Check out the study brought to you by the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 3(1):56-59, 2006. (www.theissn.org)

Leader in Glyconutritionals Launches Business in South Africa

Mannatech, Incorported announced today (April 22) the launch of operations in South Africa. A continuation of Mannatech's success in international expansion, the South Africa opening marks the 11th country where the company does business.

"We're anxiously looking forward to introducing our proprietary and patented products in South Africa," said Mannatech's President and CEO Terry Persinger. "Years ago, South Africa was the first country to grant a patent for the technology related to the formulation of Mannatech's flagship product, Ambrotose complex."

South Africa's rich legacy of using nature's biodiversity to address wellness aligns well with Mannatech's emphasis on natural ingredients.

Read more...

Mannatech Goes 'GREEN'

COPPELL, Texas, April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eleven hours a day, six days a week, Mannatech, Incorporated, locally packs and ships its nutritional supplements and skin care products to consumers throughout the United States and Canada. Mannatech uses more than 20 tons of packaging monthly sending products throughout North America, where a majority of the company's 575,000 independent Associates and Members live.

Mannatech began using recycled corrugated boxes in November 2007. Annually, this move will save an estimated 4,000 trees, 980,000 gallons of fresh water, 735,000 kilowatt hours of energy and 610 cubic yards of landfill space -- resources that would have been used to make non-recycled boxing.

"As a company that values Earth's natural resources, Mannatech is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 'going green.' More importantly, our employees are delighted to do what they can to help conserve resources," said company Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Terry O'Day. "We are continually looking for ways to conserve energy and reduce waste, and we appreciate the opportunity to partner with our local community to keep our environment beautiful."

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NIH Report: STUDY OF SUGARS ON CELL SURFACE IDENTIFIES KEY FACTOR IN FLU INFECTION

Scientists have identified a key factor that determines the ability of influenza viruses to infect cells of the human upper respiratory tract — a necessary step for sustaining spread between people. The research, described in the 6 January online edition of Nature Biotechnology and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offers new insights into how the H5N1 avian flu virus currently circulating in birds would have to change in order to gain a foothold in human populations.

The study of glycomics is a new frontier and we'll see a lot more about it in the years to come. This press release from the NIH shows that initial findings of specific sugars play a role (good or bad) in how a flu virus gains access to the immune system or is repelled. Understanding how these sugars interact will lead to the development of new medical technology as well as understanding physiological processes that occur at the cellular level.

Harpers Biochemistry identifies eight monosaccharide sugars that must be present for normal cell function in all living things. Every human cell uses these sugars to build 'messenger molecules' and the virus also uses these sugars as part of its own molecular structure. Some believe that has been a controversial subject but the fact the NIH is funding studies like this one show the importance sugars play in the future of world health. This study from the NIH is a study of how these sugars have been impacting immunological communications since the beginning of life.

Read more...
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