(COMTEX) B: Xtrana Awarded Patent on Xtra Bind Nucleic Acid Extraction P
B: Xtrana Awarded Patent on Xtra Bind Nucleic Acid Extraction Platform
BROOMFIELD, Colo., Oct 10, 2001 (BW HealthWire) -- Xtrana, Inc. (OTCBB:XTRN)
announced today the issuance of U.S. patent number 6,291,166 entitled "Nucleic
Acid Archiving."
This patent covers a family of nucleic acid extraction matrices that Xtrana has
developed, representing the foundation technologies for the Company's current
and future commercial products. These matrices, called Xtra Bind(TM), capture
and stabilize DNA and RNA and allow for enzymatic manipulation of the nucleic
acid, resulting in an extremely rapid and efficient extraction protocol.
The Xtra Bind(TM) matrices are unique in that they not only serve to selectively
bind DNA and RNA, but also interface with multiple amplification technologies
and downstream applications. For example, DNA can be amplified by PCR, and RNA
copied and amplified by RT-PCR, directly off of the solid phase bound nucleic
acid without elution. This permits an extremely rapid extraction protocol and
eliminates the requirement for the vacuum filtration, centrifugation, or
hazardous chemicals commonly associated with other extraction methods. The
protocol merely requires pipetting or liquid handling steps for the addition of
the sample, lysis buffer and a wash buffer -- thus, making it ideally suited for
automated platforms and high throughput screening or sample processing.
One of the Xtra Bind matrices is incorporated in Xtra Amp(TM), the Company's DNA
or RNA extraction kits that enable high throughput extraction in as little as 3
minutes, versus competing technologies that can take 30 minutes to 3 hours. A
wide variety of applications have been developed, with each kit configured in
either twelve 8-tube strips or 96-well plates. Additionally, 384-well plate
formats are in development. These products are currently being marketed by
various distributors in the United States, Europe, and the Pacific Rim.
The characteristics of Xtra Bind(TM), when combined with the Company's other
proprietary technologies in the area of nucleic acid amplification and
detection, will allow for the development of rapid, easy-to-use molecular
diagnostic device platforms. This family of products is referred to as SCIP(TM).
SCIP(TM) products are intended to be turn-key genetic tests that fully integrate
DNA or RNA extraction, amplification and detection in small, low complexity
devices for use in point-of-care, point-of-service applications. These devices
will be targeted for use in clinical diagnostics, the detection of food and
water pathogens, and the detection of bacterial warfare agents.
Tim Dahltorp, Xtrana's chief executive officer, commented, "The Xtra Bind(TM)
technologies are a critical component of our present and future product lines.
Extraction of nucleic acid, or sample preparation, has historically been a
significant impediment to both high throughput analysis as well as point-of-care
diagnostic applications due to its high cost and complexity. Xtra Bind(TM)
eliminates this impediment, allowing for rapid and highly simplified extraction
that can be performed stand-alone using our Xtra Amp(TM) kits or onboard a
handheld diagnostic device."
Xtrana's mission is to simplify the analysis of DNA/RNA, so that nucleic acid
based detection systems can be utilized in point-of-care, point-of-service
applications. The proprietary assays developed by Xtrana are designed to be easy
to use outside of a traditional molecular biology laboratory at a cost per test
that is competitive with existing rapid test technologies. These diagnostic
tests are intended for use in drug discovery, detection of environmental and
food contaminants, forensics and identity testing, human and animal diseases,
genetic predisposition to disease, and other applications. The Company's first
commercial nucleic acid product is Xtra Amp(TM), DNA or RNA extraction kits that
enable high throughput extraction in as little as 3 minutes, versus competing
technologies that can take 30 minutes to 3 hours. The Company also develops,
manufactures, and markets a full range of test kits to assess and diagnose
disorders of blood coagulation, thrombotic risk factors, fibrinolysis, platelet
function, and the vascular system under the Biopool(R) label. To learn more
about Xtrana, visit the Company's website at www.xtrana.com.
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements (identified by the words
"estimate," "anticipate," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions), which
are based upon management's current expectations and speak only as of the date
made. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results
anticipated in the forward-looking statements and include, but are not limited
to, competitors' pricing strategies and technological innovations, changes in
health care and government regulations, litigation claims, foreign currency
fluctuation, product acceptance, as well as other factors discussed in the
Company's last Report on Form 10-KSB.
CONTACT: Xtrana, Inc.
Timothy Dahltorp, 303/466-4424
or
Carol Hill, 805/654-0643
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KEYWORD: COLORADO CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BIOTECHNOLOGY
MEDICAL
MEDICAL
DEVICES
PRODUCT
SOURCE:
Xtrana,
Inc.
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