Ostex International Announces Allowance of Two U.S. Patent Applications for Deoxypyridinoline Bone Resorption Assays.SEATTLE--(BW HealthWire)--March 26, 1999--Ostex International, Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS:OSTX) today reported that the U.S. Patent Office has allowed two of its 1987 patent applications for deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr) bone resorption Bone resorption is the process by which osteoclasts break down bone and release the minerals, resulting in a transfer of calcium from bone fluid to the blood. The osteoclasts are multi-nucleated cells that contain numerous mitochondria and lysosomes. assays. The allowed claims are directed to assays for D-Pyr in urine using either high performance liquid chromatography High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a form of column chromatography used frequently in biochemistry and analytical chemistry. It is also sometimes referred to as high-pressure liquid chromatography. (HPLC HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography. HPLC high performance liquid chromatography. HPLC High-performance liquid chromatography Lab instrumentation A highly sensitive analytic method in which analytes are placed ) or immunoassay Immunoassay An assay that quantifies antigen or antibody by immunochemical means. The antigen can be a relatively simple substance such as a drug, or a complex one such as a protein or a virus. techniques. The patents are expected to issue this summer. Thomas Bologna, Ostex' President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "With these new D-Pyr patents, combined with our NTx and CTx patents, Ostex enjoys a comprehensive patent portfolio for bone resorption tests. Ostex is clearly positioned with both the products, and a complete technology package to capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. the use of bone resorption markers for the management of osteoporosis." The HPLC claims are directed to correlating the D-Pyr concentration in a hydrolyzed urine sample to bone resorption in vivo in vivo /in vi·vo/ (ve´vo) [L.] within the living body. in vi·vo adj. Within a living organism. in vivo adv. . This HPLC technique is widely used for drug development studies at major reference laboratories. The immunoassay claims are directed to assays for measuring bone resorption by contacting an unhydrolyzed urine sample with an antibody that binds to free deoxypyridinoline cross-links, detecting any binding of the antibody in the body fluid sample, and correlating the detected binding to bone resorption in vivo. The D-Pyr is preferably measured as a ratio to the creatinine creatinine /cre·at·i·nine/ (kre-at´i-nin) an anhydride of creatine, the end product of phosphocreatine metabolism; measurements of its rate of urinary excretion are used as diagnostic indicators of kidney function and muscle mass. content in order to provide a urinary index of bone resorption independent of urine volume. Ostex International is engaged in the discovery and commercialization of products associated with osteoporosis and other collagen-related diseases. The Company's lead product, the Osteomark(R) NTx test, incorporates breakthrough and patented technology in the area of bone resorption measurement. Additionally the Company is in the later stages of development of a patented cartilage breakdown test that is designed to determine if an individual is at risk for osteoarthritis osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease Most common joint disorder, afflicting over 80% of those who reach age 70. It does not involve excessive inflammation and may have no symptoms, especially at first. and, if so, determine if treatment for the disease is working. Forward looking statements in this release involve a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, product demand, pricing, market acceptance of the Osteomark test, changing economic conditions, the actions of competitors, the effect of the Company's accounting policies, meeting regulatory requirements for the Company's new products and other risk factors detailed in the Company's SEC filings. |
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