Osmetech plc (AIM; LSE), a fast developing, international diagnostics business serving the high growth, near patient molecular testing market today announced the allowance of multiple new US patents directed to its staple—electrochemical detection (“ECD”).

The allowances are, respectively, case serial nos.:
08/873,597: “Nucleic Acid Mediated Electron Transfer”;
08/873,597: “AC Methods for the Detection of Nucleic Acids”;
11/283,233: “Detection of Analytes Using Reorganization Energy”; and
09/760,384: “Devices and Methods for Biochip Multiplexing”

These allowances raise Osmetech’s total US holdings to 89 patents owned or exclusively licensed (~140 world-wide), and numerous complementary pending applications, according to Edward Kreusser, Osmetech’s VP of Intellectual Property and Legal Affairs. Most of the patents focus on ECD, but many are also generically directed to the broader topics of microfluidics and self-assembling monolayer (SAM) technology.
            
The number and scope of Osmetech patents and applications fortifies its FDA-approved eSensor ®Cystic Fibrosis Carrier Detection assay system and is anticipated to provide similar protection for its next generation eSensor® XT-8 platform, on which Osmetech is currently developing a CYP2C9/VKOR genetic assay for FDA 510K submission later this year. The CYP2C9/VKOR assay will help determine patient sensitivity to the anti-coagulant drug, warfarin (otherwise known as Coumarin®), and represents the first of several pharmacogenetic assays to be offered by Osmetech on the XT-8 platform.
 
More About Osmetech
(www.osmetech.com )

Osmetech plc is an AIM-listed public company on the London Stock Exchange. The company is a fast developing, international molecular diagnostics business with operations in Boston and Pasadena.  For more information please visit www.osmetech.com or contact:
 
Contact:
Geoffrey A. McKinley, PHD
VP R&D and Business Development
Osmetech Molecular Diagnostics
136 Weymouth Street
Rockland, MA 02370
Email:  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Phone: 626 463 2000 ext 8067

Edward Kreusser, Esq.
VP Intellectual Property and Legal Affairs