Metabolon awarded U.S. patents for metabolomics methods

Metabolon, Inc., the leader in global metabolism through biomarker discovery and analysis, announced today the grant of US Patent 7,682,783 and US Patent 7,682,784 entitled "Methods for Drug Discovery, Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Using Metabolomics". The USPTO awarded the patents to Metabolon on March 23, 2010. The issued claims in the new patents are for uses of metabolomics to identify diagnostic biomarkers for depression and schizophrenia by profiling classes of metabolites in a sample.

“Methods for Drug Discovery, Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Using Metabolomics”

The innovations provide means to identify novel metabolite biomarkers for depression or schizophrenia by profiling the biochemicals, such as sugars, nucleotides, fatty acids, amino acids and other small molecules, in patient samples and then comparing the profiles with reference profiles. These profiles and biomarkers can be developed into diagnostic tests for these mental disorders. In addition, the biomarkers can be used in drug development to monitor clinical trials.

Metabolon is the exclusive license holder of the Daouk-Kristal patent family which is comprised of early, pioneering patents and patent applications which provide fundamental IP in the field of metabolomics. The '783 and '784 patents are the seventh and eighth patents to issue from the Daouk-Kristal family. Metabolon's previously issued patents include the use of metabolomics for determining biomarkers for disease, including cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurological disorders such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, depression and schizophrenia, and for evaluating chemical agents for therapeutic effects and toxicity. Metabolon also owns patents relating to software designed for analyzing metabolomics data.