Independent Analysis of Nanotechnology Industry Concludes Molecular
Diagnostics Company's Intellectual Property Pipeline Power Trails That of Only
Hewlett-Packard
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanosphere, Inc., a
nanotechnology-based molecular diagnostics company, today announced that a
study of micro- and nanotechnology patent portfolios has ranked the company
second overall in terms of pipeline power. The report, prepared by
intellectual property consulting firm 1790 Analytics LLC and published in the
July/August 2005 issue of Small Times, evaluates companies' portfolio strength
based not only on number of patents issued, but also such factors as pipeline
growth and originality.
Only Hewlett-Packard was ranked higher than Nanosphere, indicating the
exceptional quality of Nanosphere's intellectual property. Combined with the
company's experienced management team and pressing market demand for more
sensitive, easy-to-use molecular diagnostics technology, Nanosphere's patent
portfolio clearly differentiates it from other venture-backed life sciences
companies.
Enabled by proprietary nanoparticle technology, Nanosphere is
commercializing its first product, the Verigene(R) System, to allow the
simultaneous ultra-sensitive detection of nucleic acids and proteins. It is
designed for use by researchers, clinicians and first responders in any lab
setting or in the field. The unmatched sensitivity of the company's technology
can lead to earlier detection of diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular
disease and the development of new diagnostic tests for conditions such as
Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. The technology is also
broadly applicable in pharmacogenomics, biohazard detection and food safety
analysis.
Nanosphere holds 34 U.S. patents, 16 of which were issued in 2004, and
five international patents; it has more than 100 patent applications pending.
The company has licensed exclusive rights from Northwestern University to
existing inventions and certain technology developments in the area of
nanoparticle probes for use in molecular diagnostics.
William Moffitt, president and chief executive officer of Nanosphere,
said: "We're focused on fundamentally altering the way molecular diagnostic
testing is performed and to do that, we've made substantial investments in R&D
and scientific talent. Those investments have resulted in extraordinarily
strong IP holdings for the company and put us in a powerful position to
advance detection of disease-associated proteins and nucleic acids."
The 1790 Analytics study considered five indicators, and then arrived at
rankings of overall pipeline power. It looked at the number of U.S. patents
issued in 2004 related to micro- and nanotechnology; pipeline growth; impact,
as measured by how frequently patents are cited by later patents; generality,
or how useful a patent is among different fields; and originality.
The report concluded Hewlett-Packard has the strongest portfolio, followed
in order by Nanosphere, Agere Systems, Agilent Technologies and Intel. Of the
companies in the top five, only Nanosphere is privately held.
About Nanosphere, Inc.
Nanosphere is redefining molecular diagnostics with a nanotechnology-based
platform that will enable earlier detection and treatment of disease. The
company's ultra-sensitive protein detection and direct genomic testing
technologies permit the development of new biomarkers and measurement of
existing biomarkers at concentrations undetectable by today's diagnostic
technologies. The Verigene(R) System's simplicity, ease of use and low cost
allow customers to perform molecular diagnostic testing in virtually any
setting. Nanosphere is privately-held and based in Northbrook, Ill. Additional
information is available at http://www.nanosphere-inc.com.
Contact:
Ken Bahk, Ph.D. Jennifer Viera
Nanosphere, Inc. Schwartz Communications, Inc.
847-400-9000 781-684-0770
kbahk@nanosphere.us nanosphere@schwartz-pr.com
SOURCE Nanosphere, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.nanosphere-inc.com
CONTACT:
Ken Bahk, Ph.D. of Nanosphere, Inc.,
+1-847-400-9000, kbahk@nanosphere.us; or Jennifer Viera of
Schwartz Communications, Inc., +1-781-684-0770,
nanosphere@schwartz-pr.com
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