Oxford GlycoSciences Awarded Broad Patent in Proteomics

<%=company1%> Plc (OGS; Oxfordshire, UK) has been granted a patent from the US Patent Office for computer-assisted methods and instruments that image, select, and robotically isolate proteins from biological samples. This approach is central to high-throughput proteomics and, according to the company, revolutionizes the process for identifying disease-associated proteins for use as diagnostics, protein therapeutics, or as new drug targets.

With this patent, OGS is in a strong position in the techniques and processes that will industrialize discovery of disease-associated proteins, without requiring prior knowledge of gene sequence or other structural characteristics of biomolecules.

This patent (number US 6,064,754) describes technologies for separating biological samples into two-dimensional arrays and generating digitized images of the resulting patterns. Methods for quantitatively measuring proteins and protein changes exhibited in different biological samples, for example between healthy and disease tissues, are also provided in the patent. Finally, the invention covers methods for automation and robotics to examine sample pattern differences, and to select specific proteins for sequence identification by methods such as mass spectrophotometry.

Lee Hood, founder of Applied Biosystems, which pioneered automated gene sequencing instrumentation, commented, "This patent confirms OGS's leading position in industrial proteomics and their contribution to the science of proteomics which is the next step of importance with genome closure at hand. The quantitative, automated ability to detect protein expression differences between normal and disease states is critical to drug discovery and development and OGS has made real progress here."

Leslie Misrock, senior partner, Pennie and Edmonds, US biotechnology patent attorneys, added, "Biotechnology innovators receive broad patents when they deserve them and recipients of such broad patents typically use such assets to great advantage."

OGS has collaborations with some major pharmaceutical companies, including a program with Pfizer in Alzheimer's disease and atherosclerosis, with Merck in diabetes, and in respiratory disease with Bayer. OGS also has a proteomics program with Pioneer Hi-Bred/DuPont, and in a joint venture with the Incyte Genomics Inc., OGS is building expression databases that they will license to pharmaceutical companies.

For more information: Michael Kranda, CEO, Oxford GlycoSciences Plc, 10 The Quadrant, Abingdon Science Park, Abingdon, OX14 3YS, UK. Tel: +44-1235-543200.

Edited by Laura DeFrancesco