Pasadena, California, USA - Osmetech Molecular Diagnostics (Osmetech), a fast developing, international diagnostics business serving the high growth, near patient molecular testing market, today announced that it has been granted a UK patent  covering its OPTI TUBE™ plastic capillary product. The grant of the UK patent follows the recent registration of a German Utility Model which also covers Osmetech’s innovative plastic vessel.  The tube is made from cyclic olefin and has excellent rigidity, optical and thermal properties making it the product of choice for PCR thermal cycling and other applications that traditionally employ breakable glass.  Adding to this versatility and novelty, Osmetech also sells a carousel housing for the OPTI TUBEs that fits the Roche Lightcycler®.

The new patent, GB 2409659, is just one of a number of patents issued to Osmetech in the last six months, according to Edward Kreusser, Osmetech’s VP of Intellectual Property and Legal Affairs.  Osmetech now owns or holds exclusive rights to some 130 patents worldwide (70 US) mostly in the field of electrochemical detection for biological entities such as nucleic acids and proteins which offers significant advantages over other methods.

Osmetech’s growing patent estate boasts tens of millions in investment over the last decade from Motorola, Caltech, Harvard University and the University of North Carolina who continue to have a vested interest in the technology and are pleased to see the great commercial potential of the portfolio become a reality.

This latest development builds on momentum achieved earlier this year when Osmetech received FDA approval to launch its eSensor® electrochemistry-based array system for cystic fibrosis carrier detection.  In addition to other projects, Osmetech plans to follow with a battery of related pharmacogenomic CYP450 assays emploing the same electrochemical detection platform.

Contact Osmetech:

Edward Kreusser, Esq.
VP Intellectual Property and Legal Affairs
Osmetech Molecular Diagnostics
757 South Raymond Street
Pasadena, CA 91105
Email:   ed.kreusser@osmetech.com
Phone:  +1 626 463 2000 ext 8017

Geoffrey A. McKinley, PHD
VP R&D and Business Development
Osmetech Molecular Diagnostics
136 Weymouth Street
Rockland, MA 02370
Email:   geoff.mcKinley@osmetech.com
Phone:  +1 770 510 4444 ext 7108

About Osmetech plc
(www.osmetech.com)

Osmetech plc is an AIM-listed public company on the London Stock Exchange. The company is a fast developing, international diagnostics business with operations in Atlanta, Boston and Pasadena in the US, serving the high growth, near patient testing market targeting small to medium sized hospitals. Osmetech operates in two business areas, namely Molecular Diagnostics and Critical Care Diagnostics. 

For further information, please contact:

Osmetech Molecular Diagnostics
757 South Raymond Street
Pasadena, CA 91105
USA
Phone:    +1 626 463 2000
Fax:        +1 626 463 2012
Email:     information@osmetech.com
www.osmetech.com

Madano Partnership
Harling House
47-51 Great Suffolk Street
London
SE1 0BS
Phone:    +44 (0)20 7593 4000
Fax:        +44 (0)20 7928 7102
Email:     Graham.Moonie@madano.co.uk