PharmaSeq, Inc. Granted Patent For Microtransponder-Based Multiplex Assay
Monmouth Junction, NJ, April 4, 2002. PharmaSeq, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted the Company its seventh patent covering the use of microtransponders in the field of DNA diagnostics. The patent, entitled “Multiplex assay for nucleic acids employing transponders” (Patent No. 6,361,950, issued on March 26, 2002) builds on previous patents and scientific work by the Company and describes microtransponder-DNA assemblies and their uses in gene analyses. Dr. Wlodek Mandecki, President and founder of PharmaSeq, is the inventor.
Dr. Mandecki said, “This patent is validation of our role as a technology leader in the growing field of genetic analyses and reinforces our belief that we are on the right track to delivering ultrahigh-throughput, multi-read, low-cost diagnostic systems required for medical care.” Richard Morris, CEO said, “Our growing patent portfolio protecting PharmaSeq’s novel microtransponder technology provides a strong base that we will use to attract additional investment and to build our commercial business.”
PharmaSeq, a biotechnology company based near Princeton, New Jersey, has developed laser light-powered microchips and related high-speed reading instruments for multiple biotech and non-biotech applications. The nanotransponder™, the newest addition to PharmaSeq’s family of microtransponders, is the smallest, externally-powered integrated circuit capable of radio frequency transmission, ever produced. The device measures only 250 microns across. Its very small size and excellent radio-frequency characteristics are highly suited for development of ultrahigh-throughput microchip flow systems for multiplex DNA assays and other medical assays that will supplant two-dimensional array systems. In addition, the microtransponder is an attractive alternative to bar codes, and can be used as radio frequency ID tags for a wide range of commercial products, precious objects, CDs, and DVDs.