Biocept, Inc. Expands U.S. Microchannel Patent Protection

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Biocept, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOC), a molecular diagnostics company commercializing and developing liquid biopsies to improve the detection and treatment of cancer, announces the allowance of U.S. Patent 9,128,082 entitled, DEVICES AND METHODS OF CELL CAPTURE AND ANALYSIS. The patent covers the use of antibodies in the capture of cells such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood, as well as other biological fluids, using the company’s patented microchannel capture device. Biocept’s antibody capture cocktail along with the microchannel are key components of the company’s Cell Enrichment and Extraction (CEE™) platform, providing for the high-efficiency capture, visualization and microscopic analysis of targeted cells obtained from a patient blood sample and used by physicians for medical decision making.

“We have been aggressively broadening our IP protection for our unique methods of capturing and analyzing cancer cells in blood and other biological fluids”

Lyle Arnold, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Biocept, said, “The issuance of this patent expands Biocept’s patent portfolio to include the use of antibodies in the capture of cancer cells in combination with our microchannel for which multiple U.S. and international patents have been granted. Our antibody cocktail is a key part of our patented and proprietary method to capture and analyze cells from a wide variety of tumor types. In addition, this patent expands our IP protection for the use of a simple blood sample, and other biological sample types, in obtaining valuable biomarker information that can be used by physicians to personalize treatment of individual patients.”

“We have been aggressively broadening our IP protection for our unique methods of capturing and analyzing cancer cells in blood and other biological fluids,” said Biocept’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Nall. “Our portfolio of U.S. and international patents better positions Biocept to capitalize on the growing movement toward the use of liquid biopsy, which can reduce healthcare system costs and importantly help patients qualify for treatments that physicians can utilize to treat their cancer.”

About Biocept

Biocept, Inc. is a commercial-stage molecular diagnostics company that utilizes a proprietary technology platform and a standard blood sample to provide physicians with important prognostic and predictive information to enhance individual treatment of patients with cancer. Biocept’s patented technology platform captures and analyzes circulating tumor DNA, both in CTCs and in plasma (ctDNA). Biocept currently offers assays for gastric cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer and melanoma, and plans to introduce CLIA-validated assays for prostate cancer and other solid tumors in the near term. For additional information, please visit www.biocept.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of words like “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” or “project” or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. To the extent that statements in this release are not strictly historical, including without limitation statements as to the use of our liquid biopsy assays by physicians, the use of liquid biopsy generally, and the impact of liquid biopsy on diagnostic strategies and healthcare costs, such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous risk factors as set forth in our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings. The effects of such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. We do not plan to update any such forward-looking statements and expressly disclaim any duty to update the information contained in this press release except as required by law. Readers are advised to review our filings with the SEC, which can be accessed over the Internet at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov.