According to a recent article in the Economic Times, a leading business-focused newspaper in India, the price of black pepper is predicted to rise in 2007 due to a continued increase in demand coupled with a tight global supply. Production of black pepper by exporting countries including Vietnam and Brazil is down significantly due to drought and India is also predicting below average output of the crop. Black pepper is a commonly used spice and extract of the black pepper fruit (as BioPerine^® from Sabinsa Corporation) is used regularly in dietary supplements to enhance the bioavailability of nutrients.

"This decrease in black pepper production will in no way impact our ability to supply customers with our clinically researched, patented BioPerine^® ingredient," stated Todd Norton, president, Sabinsa Corporation. "However, we anticipate a price increase per kilo of approximately 8 to 10 percent."

BioPerine^® is a standardized piperine composition derived from black pepper extract that has been shown in clinical research to increase the absorption of nutrients in nutritional supplement formulations. BioPerine^® and its use are protected under U.S. Patent Nos. 5,536,506, 5,744,161, 5,972,382, and 6,054,585; European Patent No. EP0810868; and International Patents pending.