NAMUR, Belgium, Feb. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE MKT: VNRX), a life sciences company focused on developing blood-based diagnostic tests for a broad range of cancer types and other conditions, today announced that it has just acquired the unencumbered assignment of the patent family WO 2005/019826 originally filed by Chroma Therapeutics Limited, a UK-based biotechnology company. VolitionRx's rights to this patent were previously held through a world-wide exclusive licensing agreement. Following this assignment, VolitionRx directly owns all core Nucleosomics® patents with no royalties or other encumbrances.
The WO 2005/019826 patent family relates to developments, made by scientists working at Chroma Therapeutics Limited, in the detection of chemically modified chromosome fragments, called nucleosomes, from cancer cells circulating in the blood of cancer patients. The scientists were able to show that cancer could be detected by measuring nucleosomes containing chemically modified histone proteins in a simple blood test.
Cameron Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer of VolitionRx, remarked, "The acquisition of this patent further strengthens VolitionRx's market and IP position in this exciting platform technology, maximizing the value of our Nucleosomics® platform for the company. Having all the core Nucleosomics IP completely royalty free is a very positive outcome for the retention of the value we aim to create for our shareholders."
Dr. Jake Micallef, Chief Scientific Officer of VolitionRx, commented, "We congratulate Chroma Therapeutics Limited for their pioneering work. Scientists working at VolitionRx have developed further innovative Nucleosomics® methods and tests for a wide variety of chromatin fragment structures to continuously expand our patent portfolio, which currently stands at 10 families of granted patents and pending applications."
About VolitionRx
VolitionRx is a life sciences company focused on developing diagnostic tests for cancer and other conditions. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid – an indication that disease is present.
VolitionRx's goal is to make the tests as common and simple to use, for both patients and doctors, as existing diabetic and cholesterol blood tests. VolitionRx's research and development activities are currently centred in Belgium as the company focuses on bringing its diagnostic products to market first in Europe, then in the US and ultimately, worldwide.
Visit VolitionRx's website (www.volitionrx.com) or connect with us via Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.
Media Contacts
Charlotte Reynolds, VolitionRx
Charlotte.Reynolds@volitionrx.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 795 217 7498
Kirsten Thomas, The Ruth Group
kthomas@theruthgroup.com
Telephone: +1 (646) 536-7014
Investor Contacts
Scott Powell, Investor Relations
S.Powell@volitionrx.com
Telephone: +1 (646) 650-1351
Lee Roth, The Ruth Group
lroth@theruthgroup.com
Telephone: +1 (646) 536-7012
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to the effectiveness of the Company's bodily-fluid-based diagnostic tests as well as the Company's ability to develop and successfully commercialize such test platforms for early detection of cancer. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. For instance, if we fail to develop and commercialize diagnostic products, we may be unable to execute our plan of operations. Other risks and uncertainties include the Company's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals to distribute and market future products in the clinical IVD market; a failure by the marketplace to accept the products in the Company's development pipeline or any other diagnostic products the Company might develop; the Company will face fierce competition and the Company's intended products may become obsolete due to the highly competitive nature of the diagnostics market and its rapid technological change; and other risks identified in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.
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SOURCE VolitionRx Limited