I think that is why there was a lot of hype about R-Lipoic Acid for awhile, as opposed to regular lipoic acid. And a lot of hype about Acetyl Carnitine Arginate.

You can patent the manufacturing processes on this stuff, even if you cannot patent the substance itself.

Nicotinamide Riboside and pterostilbene's manufacturing processes are patented by a company called Chromadex.