news releases

Vancouver, British Columbia, April 8, 2010 — Burcon NutraScience Corporation (TSX - BU) (“Burcon” or the “Company”) announces today that the Division of Biotechnology and GRAS Notice Review of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition of the Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) has formally acknowledged receipt of Burcon’s GRAS notification. Burcon’s GRAS notification was filed in January 2010 and in response to comments from the FDA, it was modified and resubmitted in February 2010. In a letter dated April 1, 2010 the FDA has formally acknowledged receipt of the GRAS notification.

Burcon also reports that five previously announced notices of allowance received with respect to its U.S. patent applications have now proceeded to grant as United States patents by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The first U.S. Patent – titled “Canola Protein Isolate Compositions” (US Patent No. 7,662,922) covers processes for the production of canola protein isolates whereby the resulting isolates are separated into their native underlying protein fractions. The second U.S. Patent – titled “Colour Reduction in Canola Protein Isolate” (US Patent No. 7,678,392) covers extraction procedures that improve the final colour profile of Puratein® canola protein isolate and Supertein™ canola protein isolate. The third U.S. Patent – titled “Process For Preparation of Canola Protein Isolates” (US Patent 7,682,646) covers an extraction procedure for the preparation of a highly refined Supertein™ canola protein isolate. The fourth U.S. Patent – titled “Production of Oilseed Protein Isolates” (US Patent 7,687,087) covers processes for the efficient production of Burcon’s Puratein® canola protein isolate and Supertein™ canola protein isolate. The fifth U.S. Patent – titled “Protein Isolation Procedures for Reducing Phytic Acid” (US Patent 7,687,088) covers processes for reducing phytic acid in the production of protein isolates from oilseed meals.

Burcon now holds a total of 17 U.S. patents over its protein extraction technology and protein product uses. To-date, Burcon’s patent portfolio consists of 120 issued patents in various countries, including the 17 issued U.S. patents noted above, and in excess of 225 additional pending patent applications, 70 of which are U.S. patent applications.