Tm Bioscience Granted U.S. Patent for Signal Amplification System

Tm Bioscience (Toronto), a developer of nucleic acids-based technologies, has been granted a U.S. patent (No. 5902724) for its signal amplification system. The patent covers the company's universal signal amplification system, which improves the detection sensitivity of DNA-based and other medical diagnostic tests. This is the third patent granted to Tm Bioscience, and it extends the company's position in DNA diagnostic and biochip technologies.

Current DNA tests often lack sufficient sensitivity, or require complex and expensive methodology, to detect targets present in low concentrations, like the AIDS virus. Tm's signal-amplifier provides a simple and cost-effective solution to this problem. Using this system, company scientists have demonstrated up to a 100,000-fold improvement in the sensitivity of specific tests, and they believe that the sensitivity can be extended even further.

"This is a very valuable and timely event as we continue to commercialize our technologies,'' said Dr. Richard Janeczko, VP of business development. "Our signal amplification system has broad-based applications and directly addresses key issues of cost, complexity, and sensitivity in many DNA tests. It is the third patent issued to us recently and significantly strengthens our position in the DNA diagnostic and biochip markets. It will be pivotal in advancing our commercialization strategy of licensing our technologies to the major manufacturers of these types of tests."

Tm Bioscience is a biotechnology company that develops and commercializes proprietary DNA based technologies for application in biochips, diagnostics, and genomic analysis.

For more information: Don MacAdam, President and CEO, Tm Bioscience, 439 University Ave., 11th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1Y8, Canada. Tel: 416-593-4323. Fax: 416-593-1066. Email: dmacadam@tmbioscience.com.