ZymeTx, Inc. Receives United States Patent Approval for the Active Compound of ZStatFlu Influenza Test, the First Commercial Application of the Company's Core Enzyme Technology
OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- ZymeTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZMTX), today announced that it has received a composition-of-matter and methods patent for the active compound in its new ZStatFlu(TM) test from the United States Patent Office as "4,7-Dialkoxy N-Acetylneuraminic Acid Derivatives and Methods for Detection of Influenza Type A and B Viruses in Clinical Specimens." U.S. Patent Number 5,719,020 was issued February 17, 1998.
"Once again the U.S. Patent Office has recognized ZymeTx's innovative viral technologies," said Peter G. Livingston, CEO. "Our first commercial product, ZStatFlu, is changing the way physicians diagnose respiratory illness. The issuance of this patent is particularly important to us as it gives us protection on use of this molecule for the detection and treatment of other viruses. ZymeTx currently holds a leadership position in viral diagnostic technology."
ZStatFlu is the only point-of-care (POC) test that enables medical professionals to quickly diagnose both Influenza A and B. ZymeTx received FDA (Federal Drug Administration) clearance for ZStatFlu in September 1997 and began to ship kits to physicians and clinics in December 1997.
The patent covers the molecule specifically designed to detect Influenza A and B enzyme neuraminidase. The patented molecule is highly specific and works with all known forms of human influenza A and B tested. "The difficulty of creating a diagnostic device for influenza is due to the antigenic drift or mutation of the virus from year to year. This is the same reason flu vaccines have to be reformulated annually," stated Dr. Craig Shimasaki, ZymeTx's Vice President of Research. "Our technology exploits stable targets on viruses that have not mutated, thus allowing our specific molecules to interact with only specific viruses. As a result of this technology we simultaneously develop specific therapeutic compounds that interact with the same target and allow the development of both diagnostic and therapeutic products."
"Due to the changes in the patent expiration dates resulting from the GATT treaty, this patent will expire in 2017 and gives us an extra two years over the previous patent rules," stated Peter Livingston, the Company's CEO. "It is important that the company protect its technology both domestically and internationally.
Note: Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the company's results and trends in its business. These statements are based largely on management's expectations. The achievement of these results is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the company's control that may cause actual results to differ significantly. We refer to the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which include a more detailed description of these factors.
ZymeTx, Inc. is a biotechnology company growing out of the research support of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. The company, based in Oklahoma City, is engaged in the development of unique diagnostic and therapeutic products for the intervention and detection of viral diseases. The company's common shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol ZMTX.
SOURCE ZymeTx, Inc.
CO: ZymeTx, Inc.
ST: Oklahoma
IN: MTC
SU:
02/25/98 08:16 EST prnewswire.com
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