RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Paradigm Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDGM) today announced that the company
has been issued U.S. Patent No. 6,562,624 titled "Methods and Materials for
the Rapid and High Volume Production of a Gene Knock-Out Library in an
Organism." The patent covers Paradigm's proprietary Transposon-Arrayed Gene
Knock-Out (TAG-KO(R)) technology, which provides methods for the rapid and
systematic mutation of pathogenic fungi, enabling the efficient identification
of novel antifungal and fungicide targets as well as novel biosynthetic and
degradation pathways. TAG-KO(R) technology may lead to new fungicides, human
anti-fungal products, and industrial products.
"TAG-KO(R) is a key technology asset in Paradigm's crop protection
program, and specifically, for our work in microbial genomics," says John E.
Hamer, Ph.D., Paradigm's Chief Scientific Officer and principal inventor of
the TAG-KO(R) technology. "As the sequencing of more fungal genomes is
completed there is a growing need for versatile and robust target validation
and pathway discovery. We believe that TAG-KO(R) is the most rapid and
versatile technology available for these organisms."
Details of Paradigm's TAG-KO(R) technology were first published in 2001 in
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.(1) Paradigm has also pursued
U.S. and international patent protection for numerous novel fungicide targets
discovered by its TAG-KO(R) technology. To date, Paradigm has received two
Notices of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for
fungicide target patent applications titled, "Methods for the Identification
of Inhibitors of 5-Aminolevulinate Synthase as Antibiotics" and "Methods for
the Identification of Inhibitors of Threonine Synthase as Antibiotics."
"We are pursuing an aggressive intellectual property strategy to lay the
foundation for a proprietary, product-oriented business down the road," says
Heiri Gugger, Ph.D., President and CEO. "At the same time, fundamental
patents like this one just issued strengthen and protect our current
technology offering."
Paradigm's core agricultural biotechnology competencies include gene
expression profiling, biochemical profiling, phenotypic profiling and data
integration/coherence tools. These technologies, and those discoveries made
using them, are protected by nine other issued patents.
About Paradigm Genetics
Paradigm is a biotechnology company aiming to increase R&D productivity by
focusing its integrated suite of technologies on the product development
cycle, from target discovery to subsequent enhancement of the safety and
efficacy profiles of development candidates in agriculture and human health.
Paradigm chooses a systems biology approach to understand gene function in the
context of biological pathways, to develop assays and biomarkers for molecular
diagnostic solutions tailored to the needs of our partners. Paradigm's
proprietary Gene to Cell to System(TM) approach has three major components:
gene expression profiling, biochemical profiling (also known as metabolomics)
and data integration and coherence. For more information, visit
http://www.paradigmgenetics.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding Paradigm's TAG-KO(R) technology and it use in discovering
new fungicides, human anti-fungal products and industrial products. Such
forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and
are subject to a number of risks, factors and uncertainties that may cause
actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those
referred to in the forward-looking statements. These risks, factors and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Paradigm's early stage of
development, history of net losses, technological and product development
uncertainties, reliance on research collaborations, uncertainty of additional
funding and ability to protect its patents and proprietary rights. Certain of
these and other risks are identified in Paradigm's Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after
the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results or to
changes in our expectations, except as may be required by law.
(1) Lisbeth Hamer et al., "Gene Discovery and Gene Function Assignment in
Filamentous Fungi," 98 PROC. NAT'L ACAD. SCI. 5110 (2001).
SOURCE Paradigm Genetics, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.paradigmgenetics.com
CONTACT:
Melissa Matson, Director, Corporate
Communications of Paradigm Genetics, Inc., +1-919-425-3000, or
media, Mark Vincent, or investors, Amy Garay, both of Noonan
Russo Presence Euro RSCG, +1-212-845-4200, for Paradigm Genetics,
Inc.
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