ADVANCED MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS

The founders' of Advanced Molecular Diagnostics developed DNA sequencing methods that have been licensed by several of the largest biotechnology companies in the world, for use in industry-leading tests for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). ASDs affect as many as 1 in 100 to 1 in 150 children. They are defined as those disorders that share features of impaired social relationships, impaired language and communication, and repetitive behaviors or a narrow range of interests. Even a broader group, about 1.5, 2% of the population in Western countries -- a group that is characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior beginning before the age of 18 years -- belong to this spectrum. As such ASD is one of the most common classes of genetically inherited disease, and an ideal target for personalized genetic screening.

Advanced Molecular Diagnostics is now developing a wholly new, fully automated approach to DNA sequencing that can computationally solve the problem of selective enrichment of a diagnostic target. This integrated hardware-software platform combines the founders', previously patented chemical technology with computational prediction of the optimal temperature cycling protocol that is required to enrich the target DNA. These temperature cycling protocols are often very different from standard three-step PCR, and cannot be predicted based on intuition alone. The technology is based on proprietary software that can be run on any workstation that controls real-time PCR thermal cyclers. This technology currently is being tested on ASD and cancer metastasis diagnosis.

Patents:
  1. US Patent 7,772,383, issued 8-10-10
  2. US Patent 7,276,357, issued 10-2-07
  3. US Patent 6,949,368, issued 9-27-05
Licensees:
  1. Celera, Abbott Diagnostics (2008-2011)
  2. New England Biolabs (2012)
  3. Quest Diagnostics (2012)
  4. Roche Molecular Diagnostics*
Patents Pending :

US Patent Application, "System and Methods for Determination of Temperature Cycling Protocols for Polymerase Chain Reactions"

*Under negotiation