SIRS-Lab develops Molecular Beacons for biochips / German Biotech Company and US Public Health Research Institute sign a co-operation and license agreement

Jena, Germany (ots/PROTEXT) 4.12.2003 - The SIRS-Lab GmbH isfocused on the development of biochips as new diagnostic toolsfor acute inflammatory disorders i.e. sepsis. For that purposeSIRS-Lab decided to acquire prominent assistance. The US-basedPublic Health Research Institute (PHRI), Newark, New Jersey,authorizes SIRS-Lab to sell the Molecular Beacon technology forthe European R&D market in the field of sepsis. The contract isvalid for 5 years. With this agreement SIRS-Lab joins a group ofconsiderable companies world-wide, which develop and use theMolecular Beacon technology.

Molecular Beacons are small molecules of single-strandedDNA. They possess a hairpin-shaped structure. At one of theirends they have bound a fluorophore, at the other a fluorescencequencher. Due to their conformation, the fluorophore and thequencher are in close proximity. That causes completefluorescence quenching. Hybridization to target DNA opens thehairpin of the probe molecules and separates fluorophore andquencher. As a result the fluorescence is turned "on".

"The license agreement with the PHRI opens up newpossibilities for the development of our biochips", said SIRS-Lab's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Stefan Rußwurm. The use ofMolecular Beacons on biochips would provide several advantagescompared to current methods. So far, sample molecules have to befluorescence labelled before analysis. "This step would no longerbe necessary and the handling of biochip experiments would bemuch easier for our customers", said Rußwurm. In addition, theMolecular Beacon technology requires only smallest quantities ofsample fluids.

During the next year, SIRS-Lab expects to put their firstbiochips on the market, which are equipped with the newtechnology. Nevertheless, a lot of developmental work is stillrequired. But SIRS-Lab is well prepared to do it. A researchproject funded by the European Union exclusively focus on theestablishment of the Molecular Beacons technology. ots Original Text Service: SIRS-Lab GmbH Internet:http://www.presseportal.de For further information please contact Roberto C. Wolfer SIRS-Lab GmbH, Jena, Germany Phone: (+) 49 3641 / 508 250 Email:wolfer@sirs-lab.de Web: www.sirs-lab.de

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