DNA Electronics Announces Grants of Key International Patents

London, United Kingdom, November 10 2010 – DNA Electronics Ltd, a fabless provider of semiconductor solutions for real-time DNA and RNA detection, announced today the company has been awarded three key patents for semiconductor-based nucleotide detection. These latest patent allowances in the United States, China and Europe build upon DNA Electronics’ strong semiconductor IP portfolio, relevant parts of which have been licensed non-exclusively to Roche and Life Technologies in recent months.

The core platform is based on an invention by semiconductor healthcare pioneer Professor Chris Toumazou FRS – founder and CEO of DNA Electronics – and a research student of his. In 2001, they found that when two complementary nucleotides bind together, protons are released, which generates a pH change, and that this pH change could switch on a microchip-based transistor known as an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET). This effectively became a form of true “DNA Logic”, turning the nucleotides of the DNA code into the 0 and 1 of digital computing. Since then, DNA Electronics has gone on to expand its IP portfolio and continues to develop its handheld Genalysis® semiconductor platform which offers unprecedented point-of-care results for infection detection and pharmacogenetics – predicting how a patient will likely respond to specific medication.

Commenting on the recent developments in the company, Professor Chris Toumazou said, “DNA Electronics has a technology and an IP portfolio with wide applicability and the potential to significantly transform life sciences and healthcare. We want to enable our licensees to pioneer semiconductors in the life science markets, as is now happening in the field of DNA sequencing. We provided access to relevant IP to Ion Torrent, and its subsequent acquisition by Life Technologies signifies the value of semiconductor-based sequencing platforms. As a company we are excited about this development and, as recently announced, we look forward to working with Roche’s 454 Life Sciences to utilize our silicon chip expertise to support them in the development of their semiconductor sequencing platform.” He goes on to say, “With these new patents awarded to the company, we are in an even stronger position to pursue our non-exclusive platform licensing structure.”

DNA Electronics’ technology is based on standard CMOS semiconductor technology, meaning that fabrication of the chip-based chemical transistors can be manufactured in any microchip foundry in the world without any modification of these exceptionally high-volume techniques. The CMOS semiconductor technology also allows scaling up of the number of sensors that can be integrated on to a single chip, as well as the integration of on-board readout, processing and communications circuitry. By leveraging DNA Electronics’ platform technology, immediate conversion of chemical reactions to digital signals can record each nucleotide’s incorporation in seconds, which makes possible scalable sequencers that complete runs in a matter of hours and enables truly point-of-care DNA diagnostic devices.

About DNA Electronics

DNA Electronics is a fabless semiconductor solution provider for real-time nucleic acid detection which enables faster, simpler and more cost-effective DNA analysis platforms. The company’s IP portfolio includes techniques for monitoring nucleotide insertions using solid-state biosensors on standard CMOS chip technology, enabling label-free electronic DNA sequencing and diagnostics platforms. DNA Electronics (DNAe) has developed the Genalysis® platform of disposable silicon chip-based solutions for real-time nucleic acid sequence detection at the point of care, providing end users with technology as yet unavailable outside a laboratory.

DNAe’s Genalysis® portfolio of silicon-based point-of-care solutions delivers fast and accurate handheld gene tests with all the appeal of consumer electronics: anytime, anywhere. Interchangeable, disposable “lab-on-chip” cartridges can be tailored to any sequence of interest, making this a customizable semiconductor technology amenable to a wide variety of applications and markets. The ability to accurately detect a gene sequence in real-time using a standalone, fully portable, low power electronic readout presents disruptive new opportunities in diagnostics, data capture and therapy.

For more information: http://www.dnae.co.uk

PRESS CONTACT for DNA Electronics: Nicky Denovan EvokedSet Email: nicky[@]evokedset.com