FRANKLIN, Mass., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sontra Medical
Corporation (Nasdaq: SONT) announced today that it has sent a notice to
Dermisonics, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: DMSI.OB) stating Sontra's belief that,
upon commercialization, Dermisonics' U-Strip ultrasonic transdermal delivery
system for insulin and other drugs will infringe one or more of Sontra's
patents. On February 1, 2006, Sontra sent a letter to Dermisonics stating
that Sontra believes that the U-Strip system currently infringes, or will
infringe, the claims in Sontra's U.S. patent numbers 6,002,961, 6,190,315,
and/or 6,491,657, noting that the penalties for such infringement are severe,
including a preliminary and permanent injunction, treble damages and
attorneys' fees. Such letter follows several earlier letters and
communications by Sontra to Dermisonics over the past several months regarding
this matter. Sontra has offered to negotiate the terms of a mutually
agreeable license agreement with Dermisonics, but has to date received no
response.
Thomas W. Davison, Sontra's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated,
"We are very concerned that Dermisonics is or very soon will be infringing on
our patents with its U-Strip system for the transdermal delivery of insulin
and other drugs. As both companies share mutual interests in the areas of
diabetes management and drug delivery, we have offered to license our
technology to Dermisonics, but have not yet received from them any indication
of a willingness to establish fair license terms. Sontra takes this matter
very seriously and will take all necessary actions to protect our intellectual
property and Dermisonics is on notice that the U-Strip system has serious
patent infringement concerns."
About Sontra Medical Corporation (http://www.sontra.com)
Sontra Medical Corporation is a technology leader in transdermal science.
Sontra's SonoPrep ultrasound-mediated skin permeation technology combined with
technical competencies in transdermal drug formulation, delivery systems and
biosensors is creating a new paradigm in transdermal drug delivery and
diagnosis. The SonoPrep technology is being developed for several billion
dollar market opportunities, including continuous glucose monitoring and the
transdermal delivery of large molecule drugs and vaccines. Sontra is currently
marketing the SonoPrep device and procedure tray for use with topical
lidocaine to achieve rapid (within five minutes) skin anesthesia.
Contact:
Sean Moran, Sontra Medical CFO
508-530-0334
SonoPrep is a registered trademark of Sontra Medical Corporation. All
other company, product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective owners.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which address a
variety of subjects including, for example, the expected benefits and efficacy
of the SonoPrep device in connection with diagnostics, vaccine delivery,
glucose monitoring and transdermal drug delivery, Sontra's expected ability to
develop, market and sell products based on its technology, the expected size
of the markets for the SonoPrep device and technology, Sontra's ability to
license its technology to Dermisonics, and Sontra's business, research,
product development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and
strategies. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements
about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such
statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to a number
of factors and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The
following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-
looking statements: our technology is new and we may experience adverse
results in research collaborations, product development, clinical trials,
product evaluations, commercialization efforts, product distribution and
market acceptance; markets for our products may develop slower than expected,
or not at all; our sales cycle is lengthy and we are still developing sales
and marketing strategies which may or may not prove effective; the SonoPrep
device may not prove effective in connection with diagnostics, vaccine
delivery, glucose monitoring and/or transdermal drug delivery; we may
experience difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals to market
products resulting from development efforts or difficulties or delays
associated with sources of regulatory-approved transdermal drugs and vaccines;
failure to obtain and maintain patent protection for discoveries or commercial
limitations imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties would have
an adverse effect on us; we depend upon strategic partners and third-party
distributors to develop, commercialize, market and sell products based on our
work; and we require substantial additional funding to conduct research and
development and to expand commercialization, distribution and marketing
activities. For detailed information about factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements, please refer to Sontra's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including Sontra's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB.
Forward-looking statements represent management's current expectations and are
inherently uncertain. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-
looking statements made by us.
SOURCE Sontra Medical Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.sontra.com
CONTACT:
Sean Moran, CFO of Sontra Medical,
+1-508-530-0334
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