Enzo Biochem Presents New AmpiProbe™ Nucleic Acid Amplification Platform Details at ESCMID London Meeting
Data Suggests Highly Efficient and Economic Platform Could be Basis for Next-Generation Molecular Diagnostics
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Enzo Biochem Inc. (NYSE:ENZ) announced that the Company yesterday made its first peer-reviewed presentation of its novel AmpiProbe™ platform, encompassing low cost, and high sensitivity, real time nucleic acid amplification and detection assays, at the annual meeting in London of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).
The Company’s presentation, titled “Quantitative Detection of HCV RNA in Human Plasma-Serum using the Enzo AmpiProbe™ HCV RNA Assay,” detailed the specifications and performance characteristics of the first diagnostic product developed utilizing the AmpiProbe™ platform.
“The assay is the first product based on our next-generation molecular diagnostics platform,” said Elazar Rabbani, CEO of Enzo Biochem. “Our plan is to systematically introduce a number of additional products that could deliver a panel of relevant diagnostics that can be performed simultaneously from a single clinical sample, a program now underway. The objective is to develop assays that are expected to provide a cost-effective solution to clinical labs while providing physicians with more comprehensive medical information on a highly economic and time consuming basis.”
Enzo‘s AmpiProbe™ Hepatitis C virus RNA assay was tested over hundreds of clinical samples and found to be reproducible, accurate and precise, the presentation indicated. The assay was found to be highly specific to HCV, showing no cross reactivity to other infectious viruses and no susceptibility to potentially interfering substances associated with clinical samples. In addition, the AmpiProbe™ HCV RNA assay was found, as compared to similar diagnostics products, to achieve a greater enhanced sensitivity that allows for a more convenient and efficient workflow requiring significantly less starting material. The data also suggests that it may facilitate paneling of multiple independent assays from the standard amount of starting material.
The Company recently announced that it had completed a submission to the New York State Department of Health seeking approval to utilize this assay as a laboratory developed test and that it also has commenced the process for obtaining CE-IVD (Conformité Européenne in vitro diagnostic) designation, which would allow it to market its HCV RNA assay as a diagnostic product in the European Union.
About Enzo Biochem
Enzo Biochem is a pioneer in molecular diagnostics, leading the convergence of clinical laboratories, life sciences and therapeutics through the development of unique diagnostic platform technologies that provide numerous advantages over previous standards. A global company, Enzo Biochem utilizes cross-functional teams to develop and rapidly deploy products systems and services that meet the ever-changing and rapidly growing needs of health care both today and into the future. Underpinning Enzo Biochem’s products and technologies is a broad and deep intellectual property portfolio, with patent coverage across a number of key enabling technologies.
Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release may be considered "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include declarations regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management, including those related to cash flow, gross margins, revenues, and expenses are dependent on a number of factors outside of the control of the company including, inter alia, the markets for the Company’s products and services, costs of goods and services, other expenses, government regulations, litigations, and general business conditions. See Risk Factors in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. The Company disclaims any obligations to update any forward-looking statement as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.
For: Enzo Biochem, Inc.
Steven Anreder, 212-532-3232
or
CEOcast,
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Michael Wachs, 212-732-4300
Source: Enzo Biochem, Inc.
Released April 1, 2012