MADISON, Wis., March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Third Wave Technologies Inc. today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,011,944, entitled “Invasive Cleavage of Nucleic Acids,” to the company.
The patent issued today to Third Wave, together with those issued to the company during 2005 (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,913,881; 6,875,572 and 6,872,816), significantly expand the value of the company’s intellectual property estate in the field of DNA and RNA detection and analysis. These patents broadly protect Third Wave’s new Invader(R) Plus(TM) chemistry. Invader(R) Plus(TM) combines the Invader(R) chemistry with basic polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, a molecular chemistry that finds even a minute amount of DNA or RNA and makes exponential copies of it, to provide the best of both technologies. The patents also provide additional protections to Third Wave’s core Invader(R) method, including potential kit configurations and assay methodologies.
Third Wave also announced that the Japan Patent Office has issued patent no. 3,665,648 to the company. This patent covers the core Invader(R) chemistry for DNA and RNA detection and significantly increases the value of Third Wave’s global intellectual property position by reinforcing strong patent protection in one of the company’s key markets. The Japanese patent is the equivalent of the two U.S. patents owned by Third Wave that a federal jury last fall found Stratagene Corp. had infringed.
“These important, new patents are a demonstration of the commitment Third Wave has made to protecting the company’s most valuable asset -- our core Invader chemistries,” said Kevin Conroy, president and chief executive of Third Wave. “The patent issued today by the Patent and Trademark Office provides broad protection to our exciting, new Invader Plus chemistry, which expands our product capabilities and market opportunities.”
About Third Wave Technologies
Third Wave develops and markets molecular diagnostic reagents for a variety of DNA and RNA analysis applications to meet the needs of our customers. The company offers a number of products based on its Invader(R) chemistry for clinical testing. Third Wave offers in vitro diagnostic kits, and analyte specific, general purpose and research use only reagents for nucleic acid analysis. For more information about Third Wave and its products, please visit the company’s website at http://www.twt.com .
All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward- looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Ex change Act of 1934 as amended. Such forward-looking statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially for Third Wave from those projected. Those factors include risks and uncertainties relating to technological approaches of Third Wave and its competitors, product development, manufacturing, market acceptance, cost and pricing of Third Wave products, dependence on collaborative partners and commercial customers, successful performance under collaborative and commercial agreements, competition, the strength of the Third Wave intellectual property, the intellectual property of others and other risk factors identified in the documents Third Wave has filed, or will file, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the Third Wave filings with the SEC may be obtained from the SEC Internet site at http://www.sec.gov . Third Wave expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward- looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Third Wave’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based. Third Wave Technologies, Invader and the Third Wave logo are trademarks of Third Wave Technologies, Inc.
Third Wave Technologies Inc.
CONTACT: Rod Hise of Third Wave Technologies, +1-608-663-4010
Web site: http://www.twt.com/
