FARMINGDALE, NY, May 23, 2006 – Enzo Biochem Inc. (NYSE:ENZ) announced today that, as a result of a licensing agreement, it plans to enter into the cytogenetics market by producing newly patented single copy DNA probes that can identify the minutest strands of DNA, opening the door to more effective treatment of genetic diseases and some cancers. The Company plans to combine the probes with its proprietary signal amplification technologies, which will enhance their effectiveness by allowing visualization at levels not achievable by other methods.
Single copy DNA probes offer a specificity in hybridizing genetic chromosomes not heretofore available for identifying elusive strains of inherited genetic diseases and cancers, allowing, among other things, for more precise clinical treatment. Current commercially produced DNA probes, while important and useful, are limited to primarily examining large sections of DNA in identifying relatively common genetic disorders.
“This is an exciting and important new product for Enzo, and it marks the first time our Company has acquired an inline license for a technology that fits so well with the expertise we have developed over the years in gene identification,” said Dr. Elazar Rabbani, CEO and Chairman of Enzo Biochem.
Enzo will produce the single copy DNA probes in its manufacturing facility here and market them to laboratories worldwide. The Company acquired a license to the technology from the Children’s Mercy Hospital & Clinics in Kansas City, Mo., in addition to rights for any patents relating to this technology issued in the future. Enzo also acquired rights to approximately 50 DNA probes developed at the University, which in peer review publications have been listed as being able to identify a number of genetic maladies.
The technology, described as “ground-breaking” by the University when it reported the first patent’s award, was developed by Joan H.M. Knoll, PhD, a cytogeneticist, and Peter K. Rogan, PhD, a molecular geneticist, co-directors of Mercy Hospital’s Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics. Patent No. 6,828,097, “Single Copy Genomic Hybridization Probes and Method of Generating the Same,” was granted in December 2004, and patent No. 7,014,997, “Chromosomal Structural Abnormality Localization with Single Copy Probes” was granted in March 2006.
“The scientists at the Hospital achieved a remarkable breakthrough with a technology that may facilitate identification and subsequent precise treatment with incredible specificity of the minutest genetic variations in a number of diseases,” said Dr. Rabbani. “Enzo is pleased to partner with the Hospital, and to be in the forefront of working to make this development available for research and clinical use.”
The technology involves the application and combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with human genome sequence information. Visualization of human chromosomes has been relatively common, however commercially available FISH probes, covering 100 to 300 kilobases, or 100,000 to 300,000 DNA bases, have been too large for their targeted DNA. Single copy probes, by contrast, are vastly smaller and more densely represented on a chromosome. They therefore can detect smaller lesions, in addition to being able to probe rare conditions, whereas current clinically available probes principally detect relatively common abnormalities.
Single copy probes thus can make for more precise treatments for individuals, even differentiating between two patients suffering what may otherwise appear to be the same disease. In addition, because the single copy probes are very small and derive directly from the genome sequences, they can precisely localize chromosomal breakpoints based on which chromosome harbors the hybridized signal.
“There are certain diseases we want to be able to dissect better because we know some patients with the same diagnosis don’t respond as well to certain treatment,” Dr. Knoll has pointed out. “These probes allow us to now drill down to the DNA level and see that the cause of the disease may actually be slightly different between patients with the same diagnosis. Such findings will make it possible to direct patients to the right specialists who may eventually be able to prescribe personalized treatments.”
“Enzo can create value added to this exciting field through the application of our proprietary signal amplification and detection technologies,” said Dr. Rabbani. “Conceivably, it will allow Enzo to generate a myriad of both products and services targeted at the cytogenetics community.”
About Enzo
Enzo Biochem is engaged in the research, development and manufacture of innovative health care products based on molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques, and in providing diagnostic services to the medical community. The Company's proprietary labeling and detection products for gene sequencing and genetic analysis are sold to the life sciences market throughout the world. The Company's therapeutic division is in various stages of clinical evaluation of its proprietary gene medicine for HIV-1 infection and its proprietary immune regulation medicines for hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection and for Crohn's Disease. Pre-clinical research is being conducted on several candidate compounds aimed at producing new mineral and organic bone, including technology that could provide therapy for osteoporosis and fractures, among other applications. The Company also holds a patent covering a method and materials for correcting point mutations or small insertions or deletions of genetic material that would allow for editing and correcting certain abnormalities in genes. The Company owns or licenses over 200 patents worldwide. For more information visit our website www.enzo.com.
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