• In current practice hyaluronan* has been isolated and marketed only as sodium hyaluronan
   
• Searching for a substitution cation for hyaluronan, Richter scientists selected and investigated zinc as an alternative ion to show superiority and enhanced therapeutical benefits over sodium
   
• Hyaluronan had been shown to coordinate to different ions but the binding to zinc was not established
   
• The optimal conditions for forming the zinc hyaluronan complex were investigated, finally it was isolated in a stable form and the structure of the complex was confirmed
   
• The novelty of the complex is recognized by patent protection in 47 countries.

*hyaluronan is a term encompassing the names used for the different forms the molecule can take, such as: hyaluronic acid, hyaluronate, sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid sodium salt, HA, NaHA etc.