EANS-News: Epigenomics AG Receives Allowance for Key Technology Patent in Japan

Patent broadly covers HeavyMethyl, a core technology of EpigenomicsÂ’
molecular diagnostic products

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Patents, Copyright & Trademarks/Molecular diagnostics

Subtitle: Patent broadly covers HeavyMethyl, a core technology of
EpigenomicsÂ’ molecular diagnostic products

Press release, Berlin, Germany, and Seattle, WA, USA, March 11, 2010
(euro adhoc) - Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt Prime Standard: ECX), a
cancer molecular diagnostics company, today announced that it
received a Notice of Allowance by the Japanese Patent Office stating
that they intend to grant a patent for Epigenomics´ HeavyMethyl
technology. This notification is equivalent to a "Rule 71(3)
notification" by the European Patent Office. Patent application
2002-571930 titled "Highly sensitive method for the detection of
cytosine methylation patterns.", claims very broadly a method for the
detection of DNA methylation by means of amplification that employs
blockers to prevent the amplification of background DNA while not
affecting the amplification of target DNA. The patent is already
granted in the US, Europe, China, Russia, Australia, South Korea, and
New Zealand.

The HeavyMethyl technology allows the specific and highly sensitive
detection of methylated DNA in large background of unmethylated DNA
using real-time PCR, the current industry technology standard in
molecular diagnostics. The technology is currently used in
Epigenomics´ own in vitro diagnostic products for the early detection
and diagnosis of cancer as well as in products of Epigenomics´
biomarker and technology licensees.

About Epigenomics

Epigenomics is a molecular diagnostics company with a focus on the
development of novel products for cancer. Using DNA methylation
biomarkers, Epigenomics´ tests on the market and in development aim
at diagnosing cancer at an early stage before symptoms occur and
thereby may reduce mortality from this dreaded disease.

Epigenomics´ product portfolio contains the CE-marked IVD test Epi
proColon, the world´s first regulatory cleared molecular diagnostic
test for the detection of colorectal cancer in blood that is based on
the biomarker Septin9, and further proprietary DNA methylation
biomarkers and IVD products at various stages of development for
colorectal, lung and prostate cancer. For development and global
commercialization of IVD test products, Epigenomics pursues a dual
business strategy in which direct commercialization of proprietary
diagnostic test products is combined with non-exclusive licensing to
diagnostic industry players with broad customer access. Strategic
diagnostics industry partners include Abbott Molecular, Sysmex
Corporation, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, and ARUP Laboratories,
Inc. for diagnostics test products and services, and QIAGEN N.V. for
sample preparation solutions and research products. The company is
headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a wholly owned subsidiary,
Epigenomics Inc., in Seattle, WA, U.S.A. For more information, please
visit Epigenomics´ website at www.epigenomics.com.

Epigenomics legal disclaimers. This communication expressly or
implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning
Epigenomics AG and its business. Such statements involve certain
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could
cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or
achievements of Epigenomics AG to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements. Epigenomics AG is providing this
communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any
forward- looking statements contained herein as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

The information contained in this communication does not constitute
nor imply an offer to sell or transfer any product, and no product
based on this technology is currently available for sale in the
United States. The analytical and clinical performance
characteristics of any product based on this technology which may be
sold at some future time in the U.S. have not been established.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Epigenomics AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Epigenomics AG
Dr. Achim Plum
Sen. VP Corporate Development
Tel: +49 30 24345 368
achim.plum@epigenomics.com

Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: DE000A0BVT96
WKN: A0BVT9
Index: Prime All Share, Technology All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
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München / free trade