|
Press Releases
VisiGen Receives Patent for Real-Time Single-Molecule DNA
Sequencing
HOUSTON, TX – February 15, 2008
- VisiGen Biotechnologies, Inc., was awarded US Patent No. 7,329,492, "Methods
for Real-time Single Molecule Sequence Determination," European and Australian
counterparts have also recently issued. VisiGen's President, Dr. Susan Hardin,
Ph.D. said, "We have the real path to the $1,000 human genome." VisiGen's
sequencing methodology can be used to sequence the genome of a human or any
other life form.
VisiGen's DNA sequencing machines will enable low cost comprehensive genome
analysis such as a one day, $1,000 human genome. VisiGen's patented technology is
scalable. VisiGen's nanosequencing machines are designed to monitor massively
parallel arrays to produce a DNA sequencing platform that will be capable of
collecting DNA sequence data at the rate of 50 million bases per second or
greater. VisiGen plans to offer a DNA sequencing service in late 2009 and to
sell DNA sequencing machines and reagents 18 to 24 months later.
VisiGen has bioengineered polymerases and nucleotides to act together as direct
molecular sensors of DNA sequence information during DNA replication. VisiGen's
novel platform uses single-molecule DNA detection, fluorescent molecule
chemistry, computational biochemistry, and biomolecule engineering and
purification. VisiGen's method tags the terminal phosphate of a nucleotide with
a fluorophore that is naturally released during nucleotide insertion into the
growing DNA strand, thereby enabling a non-cyclical approach to DNA sequencing.
"We believe that our newly issued patent pre-dates certain other sequencing
methodologies based on the use of terminal phosphate labeled nucleotides," Dr.
Hardin said, "so not only do we have to be mindful of the medical and
pharmaceutical implications of our technology, but we must also be mindful of
our own patent position in this fast developing field."
About VisiGen Biotechnologies
VisiGen is a privately owned company located in Houston, Texas. VisiGen was
founded in 2000 by the inventors of this revolutionary technology: Drs. Susan
Hardin, Xiaolian Gao, Jim Briggs, Richard Willson, and Shiao-Chun (David) Tu.
VisiGen is a spin-off from the University of Houston.
The company has received undisclosed investments from Applied Biosystems and
SeqWright, and also is supported by grants from the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency, the National Human Genome Research Institute, and the National
Institute of General Medical Sciences.
VisiGen is a contender for the Archon X-Prize for Genomics, which will award a
$10 million prize to the first entrant to sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days
for no more than $10,000 per genome.
For more information contact:
Susan Hardin, 713-665-9900
shardin@visigenbio.com
US Patent 7,329,492 - Methods for Real-Time Single
Molecule Sequence Determination
|