Aurora Biosciences Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent ForBio-Computing Novel Photochromic Fluorescent Proteins
--From AOL.-- Cooters
SAN DIEGO, June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Aurora Biosciences Corporation (Nasdaq: ABSC) announced today the issuance of U.S. Patent Number 6,046,925 entitled "Photochromic Fluorescent Proteins and Optical Memory Storage Devices Based on Fluorescent Proteins."
This patent is directed to the use of fluorescent proteins in optical memory devices. The patent exploits the ability of certain fluorescent proteins to reversibly shift from one optical state to another optical state. The proteins have exciting potential applications as novel, ultra-high density optical memory in advanced molecular computing and bio-computing applications.
Interest in bio-computing applications for use in artificial intelligence applications and as biological interfaces to silicon based microprocessors is currently increasing as the potential advantages of these systems, compared to classical silicon based systems is becoming more apparent. These advantages include the ability of bio-computers to readily exist within living organisms; the ability of bio-computers to be self-replicating and to provide cost effective and robust computing networks.
"Issuance of this patent further expands the scope of Aurora's intellectual property portfolio in an exciting new area outside of our traditional life sciences market. While our focus has been on technology development for life sciences research and drug discovery, clearly many of our technology advances have applications outside of these fields as convergence of technologies occur in different molecular applications, such as optical storage," commented John D. Mendlein, Ph.D., J.D., Aurora's chief knowledge officer and general counsel. "Aurora has an active licensing program and we hope to continue to build licensing relationships with other industry leaders in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, as well as emerging new markets such as bio-computing."
Two other patents for novel fluorescent proteins were issued to Aurora today. The first patent, U.S. Patent Number 6,054,321 entitled "Long Wavelength Engineered Fluorescent Proteins," is directed to methods of engineering improved fluorescent proteins based on the use of the fluorescent protein's crystal structure. The methods include the development of novel fluorescent proteins with modulated pH sensitivity and improved fluorescent characteristics. The second patent, U.S. Patent Number 6,066,476 entitled "Modified Green Fluorescent Proteins," is directed to novel fluorescent proteins and fusion proteins of these proteins comprising mutations within the chromophore of the fluorescent protein.
Fluorescent proteins, including green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) are a growing class of natural molecules that typically exhibit bright intrinsic fluorescence that is easily visible with the naked eye. GFP's are widely used as research tools, with over 2200 publications relating to GFP to date. New uses of GFP continue to emerge as scientists develop more sophisticated models of GFP's structure and photochemical properties and learn how to develop improved mutants with novel biochemical and physical properties. GFP is a promising new optical memory material that has the potential to create faster, cheaper and higher density optical memory than currently exists. Additionally, photochromic fluorescent proteins may be useful for optical data processing, optical and biological switches, holography, information processing, nonlinear optics, and in light sensors.
These newly issued patents reflect Aurora's growing intellectual property portfolio in new GFPs and their use for novel applications. Aurora is currently the exclusive licensee, or owner, of 10 issued GFP or GFP-related patents. Aurora's issued patents on GFP, which include over 200 claims, are directed toward nucleic acids encoding fluorescent proteins, the fluorescent proteins themselves, and various fusion proteins. Academic researchers wishing to use Aurora's GFP technology for non-commercial purposes should contact Clontech Laboratories for information (800-662-2566). Customers desiring to use Aurora's GFP technology for commercial purposes should contact Aurora directly via email at TurnerC@aurorabio.com.
Researchers wishing to use Aurora's GFP technology for non-commercial purposes should contact Clontech Laboratories for information (800-662-2566). Customers desiring to use Aurora's GFP technology for commercial purposes should contact Aurora directly via email at TurnerC@aurorabio.com.
Aurora designs, develops and commercializes advanced drug discovery technologies, services and systems to accelerate the discovery of new medicines. The Company's core technologies include a broad portfolio of proprietary fluorescence assay technologies, including its GeneBLAzer(TM) and VIPR(TM) technologies, its functional genomics GenomeScreen(TM) program, its automated master compound store, the AMCS, and its ultra-high throughput screening system (UHTSS(TM) Platform) and subsystems to miniaturize and automate drug screening and profiling assays derived from those technologies. Aurora technologies have been commercially validated by over 15 major life sciences companies and research organizations, including American Home Products, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Eli Lilly & Co., Glaxo Wellcome, Genentech, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Inc., NV Organon Laboratories, Pfizer, Inc., and Warner-Lambert Company, in the form of commercialization agreements for discovery services, licenses or systems. For additional information on Aurora's services and products, please contact Sales and Marketing via email at marcom@aurorabio.com.
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements which involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. Such statements are only predictions and the actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include risks involved with the Company's new and uncertain technology, risks associated with the Company's dependence on patents and proprietary rights, the ability to generate sales of such consumables to collaborative partners, dependence on existing pharmaceutical and biotechnology collaborations, and the development or availability of competing systems or technologies. These factors and others are more fully described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 and subsequent Forms 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For additional corporate information, visit the Aurora website at aurorabio.com.
GeneBLAzer(TM), GenomeScreen(TM), UHTSS(TM) and VIPR(TM) are trademarks of Aurora Biosciences Corporation.
SOURCE Aurora Biosciences Corporation
CO: Aurora Biosciences Corporation
ST: California
IN: HEA BIO
SU: PDT
06/26/2000 21:55 EDT prnewswire.com |
