VisEn Medical acquires Bayer Schering Pharma AG's fluorescence agent intellectual property portfolios

VisEn Medical Inc., a leader in fluorescence in vivo imaging from research through medicine, announced today that it has acquired the fluorescence imaging agent intellectual property portfolios and related technology platforms from Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany.  The patent acquisition includes over 45 issued patents worldwide covering a wide range of fluorescence agent constructs and imaging methods, and consolidates VisEn's patent and technology leadership position in the emerging markets of fluorescence imaging from preclinical research through clinical molecular diagnostics.

"We have closely tracked the very high quality of Bayer Schering Pharma's fluorescence agent technologies and extensive patent portfolios over the last decade, and we are pleased to now integrate these platforms into VisEn's programs," said Kirtland Poss, President and CEO of VisEn Medical.  "The acquisition of these assets significantly expands VisEn's patent coverage of in vivo fluorescent imaging agents, and adds to our R&D capability and pipeline of preclinical agent products and clinical imaging agents going forward."

With this acquisition, VisEn's intellectual property portfolio covering fluorescence imaging agents now includes over 150 patents and patent applications worldwide.  The collective patent estate provides comprehensive coverage of a broad range of core agent components and chemistries, as well as key preclinical and clinical applications and methods.  Included in the acquired portfolio are key patents covering physiologic agents, bioconjugates and targeted fluorescence agents, and certain activatable imaging agents for measurement of diverse biomarker activity in living systems.  With the addition of these new platforms, VisEn plans to further expand the aggressive development of its preclinical agent product offerings, as well as its clinical imaging agent pipeline and related programs.