Enzo Biochem Life Sciences Unit Awarded Patent For Increasing Detectability of Proteins and Pathogens

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ), a biotechnology company specializing in gene identification and genetic and immune regulation technologies for diagnostic and therapeutic applications and laboratory services, announced today that its subsidiary, Enzo Life Sciences, Inc., has been granted a new patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that will complement existing proprietary technologies that have applications in the molecular diagnostics and life sciences marketplaces.

"The addition of this patent to our growing intellectual property portfolio adds to the growing line of products and technology we are providing to the medical research establishment worldwide," said Elazar Rabbani, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO, and the lead inventor on the patent. "These patents have applications that can potentially enhance the visualization of minute quantities of biological material, which in turn, can lead to more sensitive diagnostic assays."

Patent #7,514,551 entitled "Multisignal Labeling Reagents and Processes and Uses Therefor", covers the use of labeled nucleotides that when linked to other biological molecules such as proteins, provide enhanced signals and solubility, thus rendering them more readily detectable. Such technology can have wide ranging uses in the development of next generation of diagnostic kits, where the detection of a virus or a bacteria, for example, can be more sensitively performed.

The Company, led by its founder Dr. Rabbani, has over 300 patents and patent applications throughout the world. These inventions have application in numerous and diverse fields and diagnostic technologies, including nucleic acid modification, detection and amplification, kit formatting, biochips and arrays. In the therapeutics field, Enzo inventions involve genetic modification and regulation, gene delivery, immune regulation and specific therapeutic treatment regimens.

About Enzo

Enzo Biochem is engaged in the research, development, manufacture and licensing of innovative health care products and technologies based on molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques, and in providing diagnostic services to the medical community. Enzo's Life Sciences division develops, produces and markets proprietary labeling and detection products for gene sequencing, genetic analysis and immunological research among others. Its menu of over 40,000 products serves the molecular biology, drug discovery and pathology research markets. The Company's therapeutic division is in various stages of clinical evaluation of its proprietary immune regulation medicines for uveitis and Crohn's Disease and conducts pre-clinical research on several candidate compounds aimed at producing new mineral and organic bone, including technology that could provide therapy for osteoporosis and fractures, among other applications. Enzo's Clinical Labs division provides routine and esoteric reference laboratory services for physicians in the New York Metropolitan and New Jersey areas. Underpinning the Company's technology and operations is an extensive intellectual property estate in which Enzo owns or licenses over 230 patents worldwide, and has pending applications for over 200 more. For more information visit our website www.enzo.com.

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. 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.

    Source: Enzo Biochem, Inc.

Released May 11, 2009