SUFFERN, NY, July 6, 2006 - Ryogen LLC (Ryogen) headquartered in Suffern, NY and R&D Systems, Inc. (RDSI) of Minneapolis, MN, a wholly owned subsidiary of TECHNE Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH), announced today that they have entered into a nonexclusive license agreement whereby RDSI has licensed from Ryogen the patent directed to the clinically important Aminopeptidase P gene.
The US Patent No. 6,399,349 titled "Human Aminopeptidase P Gene," which is the subject of the License Agreement, covers the XPNPEP2 gene that codes for the clinically important protein, membrane-bound aminopeptidase P (AmP) discovered by Dr. James Ryan in the sixties. Dr. Ryan subsequently sequenced the XPNPEP2 gene that codes for the AmP. This gene is a significant marker for hypertension, angioedema, rejection of kidney transplants, certain tumors and other diseases. This valuable patent covers the cDNA and gDNA sequences encoding AmP, a method of producing recombinant AmP, diagnostics for detecting AmP abnormalities, and prevention and treatment of medical conditions, associated with the mutation of the AmP gene.
"We are happy to extend a license under the AmP Patent to R&D Systems," said Valeria Poltorak, Ryogen's Vice President. "We look forward to working with RDSI to bring this important gene to the research community," she concluded.
"We are pleased to take a license under the AmP patent," said Dr. Paige Jensen, RDSI's Associate General Counsel. "As a leading provider of research reagents, we will be making recombinant Aminopeptidase P protein available for research applications to academic and research institutions."
Dr. James Ryan, the inventor of the '349 patent and the Chief Scientist of Ryogen stated that he was delighted to see R&D Systems' interest in his discovery. He believes that the availability of research reagents will help his discovery make its way to diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
About Ryogen, LLC
Ryogen, LLC is a genetic company that is the owner of United States Patent No. 6,399,349 titled “Human Aminopeptidase P Gene” as well as 17 patent applications. Patent applications currently pending before the US Patent and Trademark Office are directed to other genes, playing important roles in various cancers, diabetes and obesity, hepatitis C, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s and several other diseases. Ryogen is a portfolio company of IP Holdings LLC, an idea incubator headquartered in Suffern NY. Ryogen offers nonexclusive licenses under the AmP patent and patent applications to the research community on attractive terms. For licensing terms, contact Valeria Poltorak, Ryogen’s Vice President, at (845) 368-4000 ext. 111. For more information about Ryogen visit www.ryogen.com.
About R& D Systems, Inc.
R&D Systems, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Techne Corporation. Techne Corporation has two operating subsidiaries: Research and Diagnostic Systems, Inc. (R&D Systems) of Minneapolis, Minnesota and R&D Systems Europe, Ltd. (R&D Europe) of Abingdon, England. R&D Systems is a specialty manufacturer of biological products.
R&D Systems has two subsidiaries, Fortron Bio Science, Inc. (Fortron), located in Minneapolis, and BiosPacific, Inc. (BiosPacific), located in Emeryville, California. Fortron develops and manufactures antibodies and BiosPacific is a worldwide supplier of biologics to manufacturers of in vitro diagnostic systems and immunodiagnostic kits. R&D Europe is a distributor of biotechnology products.
Contact: Greg Melsen, Chief Financial Officer, (612) 379-8854
About IP Holdings LLC
IP Holdings LLC is an idea incubator with a focus on patent commercialization. For further information on IP Holdings contact IP Holdings LLC, Montebello Park, 75 Montebello Road, Suffern, NY 10901; telephone: (845) 368-4000; e-mail: [email protected] or visit www.ip-holdings.com.