Epigenomics AG Receives Allowance for Key Technology Patent in Japan

03-15-2010: Epigenomics AG announced that it received a Notice of Allowance by the Japanese Patent Office stating that they intend to grant a patent for Epigenomics' HeavyMethyl(TM) technology. This notification is equivalent to a "Rule 71(3) notification" by the European Patent Office. Patent application 2002-571930 titled "Highly sensitive method for the detection of cytosine methylation patterns.", claims very broadly a method for the detection of DNA methylation by means of amplification that employs blockers to prevent the amplification of background DNA while not affecting the amplification of target DNA. The patent is already granted in the US, Europe, China, Russia, Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand.

The HeavyMethyl(TM) technology allows the specific and highly sensitive detection of methylated DNA in large background of unmethylated DNA using real-time PCR, the current industry technology standard in molecular diagnostics. The technology is currently used in Epigenomics' own in vitro diagnostic products for the early detection and diagnosis of cancer as well as in products of Epigenomics' biomarker and technology licensees.