Enzo Biochem Life Sciences Unit Awarded Two Patents That Enhance Competitive Position of Existing Products For Fast-Growing DNA Labeling and Arrays Fields
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ) announced today that its subsidiary, Enzo Life Sciences, Inc., has been granted two new patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that will complement and strengthen existing proprietary labeling products for the genomics and diagnostics markets.
"The addition of both patents to our extensive Intellectual Property portfolio adds to the competitive position of products we are providing to the medical research establishment worldwide," said Elazar Rabbani, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO, and an inventor on the patents. "These patents have fundamental and independent applications that materially enhance and round out our current product offerings in the continually expanding areas of biomarker labeling and genomics."
U.S. Patent No 7,166,478, entitled "Labeling Reagents and Labeled Targets, Target Labeling Processes and Other Processes for Using Same in Nucleic Acid Determinations and Analyses," covers a wide range of applications in DNA labeling broadly used in such areas as nucleic acid arrays for gene expression and analysis of gene copy number in chromosomes. Such arrays in turn, can indicate the presence or absence of a number of inherited disorders or cancers. Enzo is currently developing novel labels using cyanine, which is the preferred method of labeling for this type of analysis. Together with Enzo's proprietary technology, such compounds may have both sensitivity and consistency advantages over currently used products.
U.S. Patent No. 7,163,796, which is entitled "Process for Detecting the Presence or Quantity of Enzymatic Activity in a Sample," relates to the use of novel processes developed at Enzo for use in chemiluminescent assays. These are methods for the detection of biological material where light is chemically produced, much like a fire-fly is able to glow at night. It can thus facilitate the generation of light so that instruments used for detection do not require additional inherent sources of light. The invention may thereby potentially contribute materially to reducing the cost of utilizing such equipment, as well as producing results with higher sensitivity. The technology may also allow more efficient production of such assays, which currently have utility in the immunodiagnostics and DNA probe fields.
About Enzo
Enzo Biochem is engaged in the research, development and manufacture of innovative health care products based on molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques, and in providing diagnostic services to the medical community. The Company's proprietary labeling and detection products for gene sequencing and genetic analysis are sold to the life sciences market throughout the world. The Company's therapeutic division is in various stages of clinical evaluation of its proprietary gene medicine for HIV-1 infection and its proprietary immune regulation medicines for hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection and for Crohn's Disease. Pre-clinical research is being conducted 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. The Company also holds a patent covering a method and materials for correcting point mutations or small insertions or deletions of genetic material that would allow for editing and correcting certain abnormalities in genes. The Company owns or licenses over 200 patents worldwide. 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 February 7, 2007