Patent Extends Use of PCT in Genomics and Proteomics Applications
WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass., June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Biomedica, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBII) today announced that it has been issued a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the use of its proprietary Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT) for determination of nucleic acid and protein sequences. The "Integrated Sequencing Device" patent (No. 6,245,506) is based on the discovery that pressure can be used to control the activity of enzymes that break down DNA and proteins, which consist of "building blocks" of nucleotides and amino acids, respectively. The cyclic application of pressure between high and low levels can cause these enzymes to release a single building block with each pressure pulse, so that the sequence of these building blocks in the original molecule can be determined. The patent describes a self-contained high-pressure reaction and detection apparatus with an integrated pressure cycling device optimized for sequencing operations. This PCT application may provide a more cost-effective and general method for determining the sequences of biomolecules than methods currently used for sequencing nucleic acids or proteins.
"Applications of genomics and proteomics in clinical diagnostics, therapeutics, agriculture and numerous other life sciences are completely dependent on sequence information for nucleic acids and proteins, respectively," said Dr. Mark Manak, Senior Vice President of Boston Biomedica. "The methods described in this patent further expand PCT applications into the areas of genomics and proteomics, and offer the potential for the future development of a simple, rapid approach for nucleic acid and protein sequence determinations."
This is the fifth patent issued to BBI for the use of PCT. Previously issued patents included the instrumentation designed to carry out the PCT process, technology for breaking open cells and viruses by exposure to alternating pressure pulses, modular devices for the separation and purification of nucleic acids, and methods for purifying biological compounds based upon their differential binding to an immobile support at specified pressures.
"This new patent represents yet another potential application of our versatile and innovative PCT technology platform," said Richard T. Schumacher, Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Boston Biomedica. "During the past 15 months, we have made exciting progress in our PCT research program, including the issuance of five US patents, numerous presentations at national and international scientific symposia, and publications in both the lay press and peer-reviewed journals. We are very pleased with the progress that our PCT research group has been making, and look forward to release of our first PCT product or group of products, which we now target to occur within the next 12 months."
Boston Biomedica, Inc. provides products and services for the detection and monitoring of infectious diseases such as AIDS and Viral Hepatitis. BBI has three operating business units: (1) BBI Diagnostics, an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer and supplier of quality control and diagnostics reagents used to increase the accuracy of in vitro diagnostic tests, (2) BBI Biotech Research Laboratories, a research and development center providing R&D support for the other BBI business units, as well as contract research and repository services for the government, industry and other third parties, and (3) BBI Source Scientific, an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of diagnostic instrumentation and medical devices. In addition, BBI is conducting research and development in Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT) through its subsidiary BBI BioSeq, with the goal of introducing new solutions for a number of important healthcare issues, including: inactivation of pathogens in human plasma, extraction of nucleic acids, food safety, and genomics. BBI also maintains a passive investment in Panacos Pharmaceuticals, a privately held antiviral drug and vaccine development company recently spun-off from BBI, whose goal is to introduce new solutions for the treatment of infectious diseases.
Statements contained in this news release that state the Company's or management's intention, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are "forward-looking" statements. It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those projected include the possibility that due to advances in technology for other methods for sequencing nucleic acids or proteins, PCT may not become a cost-effective method for determining the sequences of biomolecules; that, due to difficulties in the development of the technology, BBI may not be successful in developing pressure cycling technology into commercially viable products or services within the next 12 months or at all; that the PCT sample processing system may never become a better alternative than current methods for biomolecular purification or nucleic acid isolation; that pressure cycling technology may not be adaptable to any other commercially viable applications; and that certain pressure cycling applications may not fall within the claims of the Company's five issued patents; that individuals and groups utilizing such PCT procedures may not be required to license such technology from BBI. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including but not limited to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (as amended) for the year ended December 31, 2000, Form 8- K filed March 8, 2001, and in the Company's Registration Statements on Form S- 3 (Reg. No. 333-46426 and Reg. No. 333-94379). Copies of these documents may be obtained by contacting the Company or the SEC.
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SOURCE Boston Biomedica, Inc.
Web site: http: //www.bbii.com
CONTACT: Richard T. Schumacher, CEO & Chairman, or Kevin W. Quinlan, President & COO, both of Boston Biomedica, Inc., 508-580-1900
