Matritech Receives U.S. Patent Allowance For Nuclear Matrix Protein Based Testing For Breast Cancer
NEWTON, Mass., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Matritech, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMPS) announced today that it has received a notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent application covering the use of several breast-cancer Nuclear Matrix Proteins (NMP), including NMP66 and NMP43, for identifying and managing patients with breast cancer based on detection of these NMP proteins in blood and other samples. The invention includes the identification of nuclear matrix proteins NMP66 and NMP43 as actual indicators of the presence of breast cancer.
"Nuclear Matrix Proteins are specific cancer-cell markers for a number of major cancers, including breast cancer, and Matritech now has a strong proprietary position on use of our NMP technology for breast-cancer monitoring and diagnostic tests," said Ying-Jye Wu, Ph.D., Vice President of Product Development for Matritech. Dr. Wu added that the Company's patent portfolio now includes six issued patents and over 10 pending patent applications, which include claims related to colon, bladder, lung and cervical cancers.
Claims in the newly allowed patent application include the use of specially-labeled antibodies to enable rapid detection by recognizing these NMPs. The Matritech scientific team which discovered these proteins was led by Dr. Susan Keesee, Matritech's Manager of Cell Biology.
In addition to breast cancer, Matritech is developing tests for the management of other major cancers based on its NMP core technology. The Company's NMP22(R) Test Kit for bladder cancer was approved for sale in the United States in 1996, and its NuMA(TM) Test Kit for colon cancer was submitted to the FDA for clearance to market in October 1997. Matritech is also developing NMP-based tests for cervical and prostate cancers.
Matritech, Inc., based in Newton, Mass., is using its proprietary nuclear (NMP) technology, discovered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and licensed exclusively to Matritech, to develop and commercialize innovative serum-, cell-, and urine-based NMP diagnostics that enable physicians to reliably detect and monitor the presence of bladder, colon, cervical, breast, and prostate cancers.
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, potential fluctuations in the Company's sales due to the timing of customer orders and other market conditions beyond the Company's control, and risks related to the Company's ability to: successfully develop, test, produce, and market its products; obtain necessary government approvals (including patent issuances) in a timely manner; attract and keep key employees; raise capital for future operations and growth; and successfully respond to technological changes in the marketplace. Additional information on potential factors which could affect the Company's financial results are included in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Matritech, Inc.
CO: Matritech, Inc.
ST: Massachusetts |
