TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SQI Diagnostics Inc. (TSX-V: SQD), a life sciences company that develops and commercializes proprietary technologies and products for advanced microarray diagnostics, today announced that it has been granted multiple patents for its multiplexing platform and assay technologies.
SQI has a total of 13 patents protecting multiple aspects of SQI Diagnostics’ multiplexing technologies. Of these, 8 have been issued and 5 are in process. The following provides an update on the significant recent additions to SQI’s patent portfolio:
“SYNTHETIC PEPTIDES IMMUNO-REACTIVE WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AUTO-ANTIBODIES” was granted most recently by the European Patent Office on August 8, 2012 and by the U.S. Patent Office on July 25, 2012. This patent is important as it protects the proprietary assay content of SQI’s multiplex format for the quantitative, prognostic, diagnostic and treatment efficacy of rheumatoid arthritis, detected in approximately 1% of the population (US), through the application of our novel anti-cyclic citrullinated peptidecapture (CCP) molecule. This patent extends protection for SQI’s QuantiSpot and Ig_PLEX RA tests out to at least 2028.
“METHOD TO MEASURE DYNAMIC INTERNAL CALIBRATION TRUE DOSE RESPONSE CURVES” covers very important aspects of the Company’s multiplexing technology and was allowed by the European patent office on September 12, 2012 and was previously granted in China on May 23, 2012. This patent protects SQI’s method used to detect and measure biomarker signal intensities of unknown concentrations from patient blood against the signal obtained from calibration test dots plotted at known concentrations in a vessel or substrate (example – a microarray well). This allows for the quantification of multiplexed biomarkers in a diagnostic test. This patent creates protection for multiplexed calibration of tests until 2025.
“METHOD AND DEVICE TO OPTIMIZE ANALYTE AND ANTIBODY SUBSTRATE BINDING BY LEAST ENERGY ADSORPTION” was most recently granted in Canada on February 21, 2012 and has also been allowed in Europe, Australia and Japan during the 2011 calendar year. This patent provides for the methods required to effectively bind printed, in situ, elements of a microarray onto the microarray surface allowing for the consistent binding of biomarkers found in test materials as well as other biologic elements of the test, in quantities that allow optimal sensitivity in disease biomarker measurements and repeatable test results. This patent expires in 2025.
“METHODS FOR MULTIPLEX ANALYTE DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION”, published as WO 2010/075632 (July 2010), to measure multiple target analytes, for calibration, detection, quantification and diagnosis of disease specific biomarkers. The filing has been further enhanced by filing a Continuation in Part (C.I.P) with the U.S. Patent Office, entitled “MULTIPLEX MEASURE OF ISOTYPE ANTIGEN RESPONSE”, to disclose methods for simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple target analytes, including immunoglobulin iso-types and sub-classes, single and multiple protein antibodies within a test sample in a single reaction vessel. The method measures specific immune responses to therapeutic proteins and analytes.
Based on the strength of the Company’s intellectual property and these recent allowances the Company, in association with the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at the University of Toronto, was awarded a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Engage Research Grant entitled “Using interface shape as an indicator of surface quality of micro-array plates.” The purpose of the work carried out under the grant is to determine optimum conditions to control the manufacture of SQI’s microarray plates at a consistent quality to ensure optimum and consistent multiplex assay performance. The results of the work allowed for under the grant are expected to be completed by February 2013 and shortly thereafter to be incorporated into SQI’s manufacturing processes.
“The continued wins in our intellectual portfolio increases the value that SQI brings to its customers,” said Claude Ricks, CEO of SQI Diagnostics. “We believe that investing in patents related to our novel multiplexing technologies, our novel multiplexing detection platforms and diagnostically important biomarker content creates strong and diverse barriers in the multiplexed diagnostic and tools markets.”
About SQI Diagnostics
SQI Diagnostics is a life sciences company that develops and commercializes proprietary technologies and products for advanced microarray diagnostics. SQI provides laboratories the ability to simultaneously analyze multiple biomarkers, deliver accurate patient results in less time, significantly reduce labour, and increase profits...All in One Drop. For more information, please visit www.sqidiagnostics.com
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words “may”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe”, “in the process”, “is subject to” and other similar expressions which constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the ability of our patents to adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep any competitive advantage, and our ability to market and sell our novel multiplexing technologies and detection platforms. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company’s ongoing filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
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