Biotech Values

[ThomasS]

MNTA: "i still don't understand exactly what they do over and above traditional carbohydrate analysis"

Proprietary patented enzymes
Using a comprehensive library of proprietary enzymes or reagents, we break down complex sugar chains into measurable units. This provides us with specific knowledge about the basic building blocks that make up complex sugars.

Improvements to existing analytical techniques as they apply to complex sugars
The second component of our technology is the application of proprietary software and hardware improvements to established analytical techniques. These techniques include matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, or MALDI MS; nuclear magnetic resonance, or NMR; and capillary electrophoresis, or CE; among others. Through these techniques, we analyze and gather information regarding the components, structure and arrangement of the building blocks in sugar chains.

Proprietary mathematical data integration
The third component of our technology is the application of proprietary mathematical methods that integrate the disparate information obtained from the various analytic techniques. This integration helps us arrive at a specific, numerically derived solution that describes the complete structure of a specific sugar sequence.





Our patent portfolio includes claims covering:

methods and technologies for characterizing sugars;
the use of certain enzymes and reagents that specifically recognize polysaccharides in the characterization of sugars;
methods and technologies for chemical and metabolic synthesis of sugars;
the composition of matter of certain novel low-molecular-weight herapins (LMWHs), including M118, and heparinase variants;
methods to produce and identify sugars associated with glycoproteins;
methods to analyze and monitor glycoprotein profiles for purposes associated with the diagnosis, staging, prognosis and monitoring of cancer; and
methods for the in vivo non-invasive delivery of sugars.