Berlin, Germany, and Seattle, WA, USA, March 11, 2010 - Epigenomics AG(Frankfurt Prime Standard: ECX), a cancer molecular diagnostics company, today announced that it received a Notice of Allowance by the Japanese Patent Office stating that they intend to grant a patent for Epigenomics’ HeavyMethyl^(TM) technology. This notification is equivalent to a “Rule 71(3) notification” by the European Patent Office. Patent application 2002-571930 titled “Highly sensitive method for the detection of cytosine methylation patterns.”, claims very broadly a method for the detection of DNA methylation by means of amplification that employs blockers to prevent the amplification of background DNA while not affecting the amplification of target DNA. The patent is already granted in the US, Europe, China, Russia, Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand.
The HeavyMethyl^(TM) technology allows the specific and highly sensitive detection of methylated DNA in large background of unmethylated DNA using real-time PCR, the current industry technology standard in molecular diagnostics. The technology is currently used in Epigenomics’ own in vitro diagnostic products for the early detection and diagnosis of cancer as well as in products of Epigenomics’ biomarker and technology licensees.
About Epigenomics
Epigenomics is a molecular diagnostics company with a focus on the development of novel products for cancer. Using DNA methylation biomarkers, Epigenomics’ tests on the market and in development aim at diagnosing cancer at an early stage before symptoms occur and thereby may reduce mortality from this dreaded disease.
Epigenomics’ product portfolio contains the CE-marked IVD test Epi proColon, the world’s first regulatory cleared molecular diagnostic test for the detection of colorectal cancer in blood that is based on the biomarker Septin9, and further proprietary DNA methylation biomarkers and IVD products at various stages of development for colorectal, lung and prostate cancer. For development and global commercialization of IVD test products, Epigenomics pursues a dual business strategy in which direct commercialization of proprietary diagnostic test products is combined with non-exclusive licensing to diagnostic industry players with broad customer access. Strategic diagnostics industry partners include Abbott Molecular, Sysmex Corporation, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, and ARUP Laboratories, Inc. for diagnostics test products and services, and QIAGEN N.V. for sample preparation solutions and research products. The company is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a wholly owned subsidiary, Epigenomics Inc., in Seattle, WA, U.S.A. For more information, please visit Epigenomics’ website at www.epigenomics.com.
Epigenomics legal disclaimers. This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Epigenomics AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Epigenomics AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Epigenomics AG is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The information contained in this communication does not constitute nor imply an offer to sell or transfer any product, and no product based on this technology is currently available for sale in the United States.
The analytical and clinical performance characteristics of any product based on this technology which may be sold at some future time in the U.S. have not been established.
