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European Technology Patent for Nucleosomics
European Technology Patent for Nucleosomics.
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[{"type":"text","content":"\n \nFor immediate release - 7.00am, 12th November 2007\n\n ValiRx Plc \n\n (\"ValiRx\") \n\n European Technology Patent for Nucleosomics \n\nValiRx (AIM: VAL), the cancer therapeutics company, today announces that\nfollowing the announcement on 15 October 2007 regarding the signing of a full\nlicense agreement with Chroma Therapeutics Ltd (\"Chroma\") to commercialise\nNucleosomics1, a non-invasive diagnostic technology patent developed by Chroma,\nValiRx has been allowed the European patent for its Nucleosomics technology\npatent application.\n\nNucleosomics complements ValiRx's existing cancer diagnostics technology,\nHyperGenomics.2 Together these create a non-invasive, mass screening, cancer\ndiagnostics package with the potential to deliver early stage diagnosis,\nspecific diagnosis, prognosis, evaluation and therapeutic strategy. The ongoing\ntesting and development of the Nucleosomics technology will be carried out by\nValiBIO S.A., ValiRx's recently formed Belgium subsidiary; where research will\nalso be undertaken to develop Nucleosomics as a specific marker for specific\ncancers.\n\nDr Satu Vainikka, CEO of ValiRx, commented:\n\n\"We are delighted to have received this European patent. It further strengthens\nthe position of our interlinked suite of oncology related diagnostic\ntechnologies against a background of strong growth in the oncology diagnostic\nmarket.\"\n\n ---Ends--- \n\nNotes to editor\n\n \n\n1. NucleosomicsTM\n\nNucleosomics is a non-invasive (blood) test for early cancer diagnosis based on\nepigenetic signal changes associated with malignancy.\n\n \n\nThe control of gene expression is determined by a number of different\nepigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Paramount amongst these is the chromatin\nenvironment surrounding the gene and key covalent modifications (including\nacetylation, methylation, phosphorilation and others) to the histone proteins\nassociated with the nucleosomes of the gene. This is often referred to as the\nhistone code.\n\n \n\nDisruption of the normal histone code is associated with aberrant gene\nexpression and malignant transformation and these alterations are the basis of\nNucleosomics.\n\n \n\nNucleosomics is non-invasive. Intact nucleosomes derived from tumour chromatin\nare found in the blood of cancer patients, but not in healthy individuals.\nThese cell-free nucleosomes can...