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Osmetech licenses self-assembling monolayer (SAM) nanotechnology to Evanston, Illinois-based Ohmx Corporation - 10 October 2006
Osmetech plc (AIM; LSE) today announced that it has signed a non-exclusive commercial license with Evanston, Illinois-based Ohmx Corporation to Osmetech’s self-assembling monolayer (SAM) nanotechnology for biosensor use. Osmetech, a fast developing international diagnostics business with operations in Atlanta, Boston and Pasadena, USA, serves the high growth, near patient molecular testing market and holds exclusive rights to the SAM technology. The SAM technology, invented by George Whitesides, Ph.D. at Harvard University, is finding increasing merit, particularly in electrochemistry-based biosensing methodologies, where it is used to minimize background signal, provide for uniform functionalized attachment of molecules and to reduce nonspecific aggregation events. Financial details were not disclosed.
James White, CEO of Osmetech, said, “When Osmetech acquired Clinical Micro Sensors (CMS) from Motorola, it came with a patent portfolio that had over $25 million invested in it and over 80 granted patents to date. Today marks an important step in our ability to maximize our economic return by looking to actively license our portfolio to companies in complementary product areas and also for non-healthcare diagnostic markets such as research, forensics, environmental, biodefense and food. We look forward to announcing other partnerships in the near future.”
“The SAM patents are just one complementary piece of a much broader intellectual property position held by Osmetech in the field of electrochemistry-based detection”, says Edward Kreusser, Osmetech’s VP of Intellectual Property and Legal Affairs. “In addition to the Harvard SAM IP, Osmetech also holds exclusive rights to very valuable biosensing patents owned by California Institute of Technology (Caltech), University of North Carolina, CMS and Concordia University.”
This agreement is just the latest in a series of deals between Osmetech and Ohmx. Ohmx’s founder and Chairman of the Board, Thomas Meade, Ph.D. also co-founded CMS and is an inventor on many of the Caltech’s and CMS’ patents held or exclusively licensed by Osmetech.
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. Osmetech has launched eSensor®, an FDA cleared electrochemistry-based array system for cystic fibrosis carrier detection and plans to launch a number of pharmacogenomic assays utilizing the same proprietary technology.
About Ohmx Corporation
(www.ohmxbio.com)
Ohmx Corporation is a protein biosensor company focused on the development of portable, electronic detection devices for use in in vitro diagnostics and other applications such as biodefense, food safety and water testing.
Contact OSMETECH:
www.osmetech.com
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: 770 510 4444 ext 7108
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: 626 463 2000 ext 8017
Contact Ohmx:
www.ohmxbio.com
Jodi Flax Soriano
Director of Business Development
Ohmx Corporation
1801 Maple Avenue, Suite 6143
Evanston, IL 60201
Email: jodi@ohmxbio.com
Phone: 847-491-8500