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Strategies & Market Trends : Three Amigos Stock Thread -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ditchdigger who wrote (28951)	8/15/2002 2:03:36 PM
From: Ditchdigger	Respond to of 29382

cphd issued new patent (reloaded at 2.67, looking good..;^)) Cepheid Granted Patent Covering Ultrasonic Lysis in Test Cartridges SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD - News) today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 6,431,476 covering apparatus and methods for lysing cells and micro-organisms in cartridges using ultrasonic energy. This technology is a key aspect of Cepheid's rapid, automated genetic testing platform, the GeneXpert® system. ADVERTISEMENT In order to gain access to nucleic acids and other molecules inside a cell or virus for testing, the cell or virus must be lysed, or broken open. Traditional methods for lysing can involve harsh chemicals, high temperatures and long reaction times. In addition, these lysing chemicals are usually inhibitory to genetic amplification and detection methods such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). At the current time, complex and expensive nucleic acid purification and concentration steps are routinely required to remove these lysing chemicals prior to amplification and detection. The technology covered by Cepheid's new patent can eliminate such purification and concentration steps, vastly simplifying genetic testing procedures. Using ultrasonic lysing in the disposable GeneXpert cartridge, sample preparation can be reduced from several hours, in the case of hardy organisms such as tuberculosis and anthracis, to only several minutes. This technology is broadly applicable to other cells, bacteria and viruses. GeneXpert is expected to be the first system to allow raw biological samples, such as urine, blood and swabs, to be processed automatically in a disposable cartridge, yielding a genetic result in approximately 30 minutes. Benefits of the system are currently being demonstrated in a pilot program with the US Postal Service to evaluate the potential detection of biothreat organisms in the mail. About Cepheid Cepheid, based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of miniaturized, fully integrated systems for rapid, on-site detection of DNA -- the universal biological identifier. Founded in 1996, the company is commercializing its technology and products for scientific, medical and industrial applications requiring time-critical detection of human and other genes, infectious disease agents, and industrial and environmental contaminants at the point of need. This press release contains forward-looking statements that are not purely historical regarding the company or management's intentions, beliefs, expectations and strategies for the future. Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from the company's current expectations. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the performance and benefits of the GeneXpert system. It is important to note that actual outcomes and Cepheid's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties relating to: the functionality and performance of Cepheid's products; the inherent uncertainties of patent protection; whether the Northrop Grumman/Cepheid team competing for the USPS bio-threat detection system production contract is awarded the contract; whether actual USPS funding, deployment and operating parameters meet expected levels; and whether the system-as-built performs to specifications. All forward-looking statements and reasons why results might differ included in this release are made as of the date of this press release, based on information currently available to Cepheid, and Cepheid assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement or reasons why results might differ. SOURCE: Cepheid