Wow, this is wild...a combination of our two favorite hot sectors: optics and biotech
(PR NEWSWIRE) Aurora Biosciences Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent For Bio-Computing Novel
Photochromic Fluorescent Proteins
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
-0- 06/26/2000
/CONTACT: Doug Farrell, Senior Director, Investor Relations & Corporate
Communications of Aurora Biosciences Corporation, 858-404-6767, fax,
858-404-6714, ir@aurorabio.com/
/Web site: aurorabio.com
(ABSC)
CO: Aurora Biosciences Corporation
ST: California
IN: HEA BIO
SU: PDT
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