Shandong Aonai Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a science-driven pet supplement manufacturer and pet supplement supplier based in Linyi City, Shandong Province, China, has announced two major advances in its international intellectual property strategy for the Dr.kalan brand: the Dr.kalan compound probiotic has been officially granted a Dutch invention patent, and the gastric acid-resistant Dr.kalan collagen peptide has received a fully positive search report and written opinion from the European Patent Office (EPO), confirming the novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability of all claims. Together, these milestones significantly strengthen the company's technology moat in the pet nutrition industry ― spanning both gut health and bone & joint health, two of the fastest-growing categories in pet supplements.
The Netherlands Patent Office (Octrooicentrum Nederland) has officially granted invention patent 4000956 for the "DR.KALAN COMPOUND PROBIOTIC, PREPARATION METHOD THEREFOR AND APPLICATION THEREOF."
Key details of the grant:
Patent number: 4000956
Filing date: February 4, 2026
Grant date: July 30, 2026
Protection term: 20 years from filing, valid until February 3, 2046
Patent holder: Shandong Aonai Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Inventor: Jianxin Zhang
The granted patent protects a Dr.kalan compound probiotic consisting, by mass percentage, of 78%‒82% core strain group, 18%‒22% functional auxiliary components, and 1%‒4% carrier materials. The core strains have been deposited at the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) under deposit numbers 10701, 13044, 17225, and 19824, guaranteeing the uniqueness and traceability of the technology.
Compared with existing similar products, the patented probiotic delivers four significant advantages:
1. Strong strain specificity: intestinal colonization rate 35% higher than human-derived strains, addressing the industry-wide problem of ineffective supplements;
2. Superior stability: 24-month shelf life at room temperature with viable bacteria retention of no less than 80%, solving the activity-loss problem across warehousing and shelf life;
3. Clear synergistic efficacy: under stress conditions such as diet changes or travel, intestinal problem improvement rates increase by more than 50%;
4. High industrialization feasibility: standardized process parameters and low viable bacteria loss make the product fully suitable for large-scale production of high-quality dog probiotics, cat probiotics, and pet probiotics.
For patent application NL 4000998 ("GASTRIC ACID-RESISTANT DR. KALAN COLLAGEN PEPTIDE AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREFOR"), the Netherlands Patent Office commissioned the European Patent Office (EPO) to conduct a prior art search.
The search was completed on June 29, 2026 and the report was delivered on August 5, 2026.
The EPO written opinion confirms that claims 1‒7 all meet the requirements of novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability:
Novelty: YES ― claims 1‒7
Inventive step: YES ― claims 1‒7
Industrial applicability: YES ― claims 1‒7
After reviewing four prior art documents (CN 119 867 323 A, CN 121 264 654 A, US 2007/155666 A1, and US 2012/058948 A1), the examiner concluded that none of them discloses the specific combination of features claimed in the application ― including a composition of 55%‒65% core active component, 25%‒35% gastric acid-resistant protective system, 5%‒10% functional auxiliary components, and 2%‒5% carrier material; a core active component combining bovine bone collagen peptide and chicken sternal cartilage collagen peptide (3:2), with a molecular weight of 1000‒3000 Da, peptide purity of at least 95%, and hydroxyproline content of at least 12%; and a layered composite coating with inner and outer layers (1:2) combining sodium alginate/chitosan (4:1) and polyglycerol fatty acid ester/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (3:2). The examiner explicitly noted that no prior art teaches or suggests the layered gastric acid-resistant coating, and the claimed subject matter is neither derivable from the closest prior art alone nor in combination with other documents.
Collagen peptides are among the most valued functional ingredients for pet joint health, but they are easily degraded by gastric acid before absorption. The patented technology maintains an activity retention rate of at least 85% in a gastric acid environment, ensuring functional ingredients are fully absorbed in the intestinal tract, and delivers triple efficacy: promoting bone and joint repair, improving skin and coat quality, and enhancing immunity ― directly relevant to the core audiences of dog joint supplement, glucosamine for dogs, canine glucosamine chondroitin, and senior dog joint supplement products.
The two technologies form a complementary portfolio covering two of the most in-demand pet health categories:
Technology
Patent status
Primary benefits
Target keywords
Dr.kalan compound
probiotic
Granted (NL4000956)
Gut health, digestion, immunity under stress dog probiotics, cat probiotics, gut health
Gastric acid-resistant
collagen peptide
Positive EPO
opinion (NL4000998)
Bone & joint repair, skin & coat, immunity dog joint supplement, glucosamine chondroitin for dogs
For brands, distributors, and retailers, this portfolio translates into concrete commercial value: patented, evidence-backed formulations available through OEM/ODM, private label, bulk supply, and custom formula programs ― enabling partners to launch differentiated product lines with internationally verified technology credentials.
Shandong Aonai Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a science-driven pet health enterprise located in the Wenshui Industrial Park, Pingyi County, Linyi City, Shandong Province, China. The company integrates R&D, production, and sales, with a product portfolio spanning dog joint supplements, dog multivitamins, dental care products, and digestive & probiotic supplements under its Dr.kalan brand. As an experienced pet supplement manufacturer and pet supplement supplier, the company offers flexible OEM/ODM, private label, and custom formula services to brands and distributors worldwide. Its quality assurance system is backed by an FSPCA PCQI-certified R&D team, and the company holds multiple international invention patents and patent applications covering its Dr.kalan compound probiotics and gastric acid-resistant collagen peptides. Committed to "quality first, safety first, technology driven," Shandong Aonai is dedicated to delivering safe, scientific, and premium pet health products to pets and pet parents around the world.
With one patent granted and another passing international examination with flying colors, Shandong Aonai Biopharmaceutical is well positioned to lead the next stage of innovation in pet nutrition ― and to share that innovation with partners around the world.
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