Press Releases

Nanogen Issued Patent for Kinase Screening Technology

Sep 26, 2005

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nanogen, Inc. (Nasdaq: NGEN), developer of advanced diagnostic products, announced today it was issued Patent No. 6,942,778, "Microstructure Apparatus and Method for Separating Differently Charged Molecules Using an Applied Electric Field" by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The '778 patent relates to a biological screening device used to monitor the activity of kinase, protease or phosphatase enzymes on peptide substrates. The device may be used to monitor a change in net charge of a target molecule as a result of enzyme activity. The technology described in Nanogen's 132nd patent also allows for simpler, faster and safer molecular analyses using fluorescent labeling.

Kinase dependant phosphorylation screening is often used in drug discovery research to determine if lead drug candidates have an effect on the target of interest. Kinase activity can be monitored through a change in the net charge of the peptide of interest. This device provides a simple solution to separate peptides or other differentially charged molecules in a sample for detection and quantification of a molecule of interest. Using electronic technology for the separation of kinases and substrates results in fewer false negatives and false positive results. This device uses fluorometry to detect kinase activity and eliminates the need for radioactive isotopes. The more precise quantitative assessment of kinase activity of Nanogen's device provides a faster means of identifying targets in drug discovery.

About Nanogen, Inc.

Nanogen's advanced diagnostics provide researchers, clinicians and physicians worldwide with improved methods and tests to predict, diagnose and ultimately help treat disease. The company's products include real-time PCR reagents, the NanoChip(R) Molecular Biology Workstation platform for molecular diagnostic applications and a line of rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests. Nanogen's ten years of pioneering research involving nanotechnology holds the promise of miniaturization and continues to be supported for its potential for diagnostic and biowarfare applications. For additional information please visit Nanogen's website at www.nanogen.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including whether patents owned or licensed by Nanogen will be developed into products, whether the patents owned by Nanogen offer any protection against competitors with competing technologies, whether products under development can be successfully developed and commercialized, whether results reported by our customers or partners can be identically replicated, and other risks and uncertainties discussed under the caption "Factors That May Affect Results" and elsewhere in Nanogen's Form 10-K or Form 10-Q most recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Nanogen disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

 

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