ArcticZymes AS Files New Enzyme Patent Application
ArcticZymes AS strengthens its proprietary patent portfolio by protecting a new endonuclease product and its use
TROMSØ, NORWAY, February 20, 2012 – ArcticZymes AS, a subsidiary of Biotec Pharmacon ASA (TICKER: BIOTEC) has filed a priority application on a newly developed heat-labile endonuclease with outstanding properties.
This new endonuclease features optimal activity at extremely high salt concentrations and is irreversibly inactivated by very gentle heat-treatment conditions.
With this new enzyme it is for the first time possible to offer manufacturers and users of enzymes a convenient way to eliminate background noise from contaminating DNA and RNA. The contamination of enzymes in molecular biology is becoming a growing concern after it was initially noticed as an issue with Taq Polymerase, but with the new enzyme from ArcticZymes a solution is readily available.
In protein purification – a new market for ArcticZymes, the enzyme offers unprecendented convenience, as the nuclease digestion step can actually take place at low temperature, in standard protein buffer due to the high salt activity of the enzyme and the activity of the enzyme can be conveniently and irreversibly terminated by gentle heat-inactivation.
The heat-inactivation feature provides a simple workflow and an economic alternative to tedious and loss impairing methods for removal of the nuclease, and the high-salt activity makes it possible to access DNA and RNA tightly bound to proteins, so a new level of removal can be achieved.
Adding this patent application to the already large and strong portfolio of existing patent families protecting its main phosphatase, glycosylase and nuclease products, ArcticZymes has now further improved its strong proprietary position on this field.
"This latest patent application will undoubtedly position ArcticZymes AS strongly within the expanding contamination control market, and it will open new attractive markets for the company. The product covered by this patent application is exceptional in its efficacy and variety of application." said Jan Buch Andersen, CEO, ArcticZymes AS. "With our present product and patent portfolio we are confident to establish a strong foothold within this and related markets." he says.
ArcticZymes AS develops, produces and sells enzymes used in molecular DNA technologies and diagnostics. The market is highly expansive, and the rapid and diversifying technological development creates a strong market demand for new and improved enzymes.
This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
For further information, please contact
Managing director Jan Buch Andersen
Tel: +47 46 74 61 71
e-mail: jba@arcticzymes.com
About Biotec Pharmacon ASA:
Biotec Pharmacon is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and manufactures new immunomodulatory products and cold adapted marine enzymes. The wholly owned Biotec BetaGlucans AS focuses on new and effective solutions within wound care, cancer therapies and other immune related disease areas, while ArcticZymes AS (96% owned) aspires to become a leading supplier of novel enzymes for diagnostics and genetic research. www.biotec.no.
Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act:
With the exception of the historical information contained in this release, the matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties that may individually or mutually impact the matters herein described, including but not limited to, product acceptance, the ability to continually obtained increased orders of its products, the ability to meet installation goals, economic, competitive, governmental impacts, whether pending patents will be granted or defendable, validity of intellectual property and patents, the ability to license patents, the ability to commercialize developmental products, as well as technological and/or other factors.