Senomyx receives U.S. patent for S2383 flavor ingredient

Senomyx, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNMX), a leading company focused on using proprietary technologies to discover and develop novel flavor ingredients for the food, beverage, and ingredient supply industries, announced today that the Company has been granted U.S. Patent No. 7,928,111 covering foods and beverages containing S2383, a highly effective enhancer of the sweetener sucralose.

In particular, the issued patent includes composition claims covering S2383 and its analogs. S2383 is intended to enhance the taste of sucralose, a high-intensity sweetener used in a wide variety of products such as baked goods, cereals, desserts, dairy products, and confectionaries. Use of S2383 allows the amount of sucralose in these products to be reduced by up to 75% while maintaining the desired sweet taste. By enabling the reduction of sucralose, S2383 may allow manufacturers to decrease their costs of goods and improve the taste of certain products.

"Our pioneering research at Senomyx represents some of the most innovative work in the field of flavor technology," said Don Karanewsky, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of the Company. "We are very pleased with the issuance of this key U.S. patent for one of our sweetness enhancers, and we believe it speaks to Senomyx's leadership in the identification and development of products that can substantially reduce the use of added sweeteners in a broad range of food and beverage applications."

Firmenich SA, a global leader in providing ingredients and flavor systems to major consumer companies, has exclusive worldwide rights to market S2383 as either a stand-alone ingredient or as part of a flavor system in all food and beverage product categories.

"We are very pleased to receive patent coverage for S2383, a unique new flavor ingredient that is a valuable asset for Senomyx," said Kent Snyder, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "Firmenich has initiated sales of commercial quantities of S2383 and is currently engaged in marketing activities with additional major clients. The feedback from potential customers regarding the taste profile and other characteristics has been very favorable, and we're looking forward to the introduction of a variety of products containing S2383."

As of March 31, 2011, Senomyx was the owner or exclusive licensee of 239 issued patents and several hundred pending patent applications in the U.S., Europe, and numerous other countries. The Company's patents and patent applications include claims regarding proprietary technologies for the discovery of novel flavor ingredients, as well as composition and usage claims for new flavors and flavor modulators.