Metabolon, Inc., the leader in global metabolism through biomarker
discovery and analysis, announced today the grant of US Patent 7,682,783
and US Patent 7,682,784 entitled "Methods for Drug Discovery, Disease
Treatment and Diagnosis Using Metabolomics". The USPTO awarded the
patents to Metabolon on March 23, 2010. The issued claims in the new
patents are for uses of metabolomics to identify diagnostic biomarkers
for depression and schizophrenia by profiling classes of metabolites in
a sample.
“Methods for Drug Discovery, Disease
Treatment and Diagnosis Using Metabolomics”
The innovations provide means to identify novel metabolite biomarkers
for depression or schizophrenia by profiling the biochemicals, such as
sugars, nucleotides, fatty acids, amino acids and other small molecules,
in patient samples and then comparing the profiles with reference
profiles. These profiles and biomarkers can be developed into diagnostic
tests for these mental disorders. In addition, the biomarkers can be
used in drug development to monitor clinical trials.
Metabolon is the exclusive license holder of the Daouk-Kristal patent
family which is comprised of early, pioneering patents and patent
applications which provide fundamental IP in the field of metabolomics.
The '783 and '784 patents are the seventh and eighth patents to issue
from the Daouk-Kristal family. Metabolon's previously issued patents
include the use of metabolomics for determining biomarkers for disease,
including cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurological disorders such
as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's
Disease, Huntington's Disease, depression and schizophrenia, and for
evaluating chemical agents for therapeutic effects and toxicity.
Metabolon also owns patents relating to software designed for analyzing
metabolomics data.
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