27 Apr 2011 07:00
Embargoed: 0700hrs, 27 April 2011
Akers Biosciences, Inc.
("ABI" or the "Company")
ABI Granted Patent Protection for Semi-quantitative Test Strip
Akers Biosciences, Inc (AIM:AKR), a leading designer and manufacturer of rapid diagnostic screening and testing products, is pleased to announce that it has been granted patent protection in the United States for its novel, semi-quantitative test strip technology (the "Technology"), which enables the rapid determination of levels of important markers of disease. The Technology forms a key element of the Company's Tri-Cholesterol test - the only rapid test in the US to determine Total HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. The Technology could also be applied to many other diagnostic tests that can be marketed to both doctors' surgeries and consumers.
ABI's novel Technology facilitates the rapid, semi-quantitative analysis of biomarkers in bodily fluids within a convenient, on-site setting. The intellectual property encompasses certain elements of a system of membranes, as well as a means for the semi-quantitative estimation of the level of the biomarker. The concentration of certain biomarkers such as prostate-specific antigen, an important marker of prostate cancer, or cholesterol in the blood are important diagnostic tools necessary to monitor the risk or progression of disease. However, precise quantitative determinations are not necessary for the clinical utility of these biomarkers, but rather an estimate of the concentration suffices for screening purposes. By contrast, conventional methods are labour-intensive and time-consuming, and may involve specialised equipment and/or medical personnel to determine the concentration of the test substance.
Dr Raymond F. Akers, Jr., Executive Chairman, commented:
"We are pleased that another one of our core platform technologies has obtained patent protection. Our semi-quantitative test strip technology provides doctors and consumers with the ability to determine levels of important markers of disease inexpensively, at the Point-of-Care and without the complications of costly and difficult-to-operate medical instruments. Furthermore, the Technology provides users with fast and easy screening test results when precise measurement is not necessary. For example, what is most important to a patient with concerns about his cholesterol is whether his cholesterol level is higher or lower than it was last month. By putting the power of this type of information right when and where it is needed, immediate action can be taken."
Enquiries:
Thomas A. Nicolette, President and CEO
Dr Raymond F. Akers, Jr., Executive Chairman
Tel. +1 856 848 8698
Antony Legge or Noelle Greenaway
Daniel Stewart & Company plc (Nomad and Broker)
Tel. +44 (0)20 7776 6550
Ben Simons
M: Communications
Tel. +44 (0)20 7920 2340
About Akers Biosciences, Inc.
Akers Biosciences develops, manufactures, and supplies rapid, point of care screening and testing products designed to bring healthcare information both rapidly and directly to the consumer or healthcare provider. The Company has advanced the science of diagnostics while responding to major shifts in healthcare through the development of several proprietary platform technologies. The Company's state-of-the-art rapid diagnostic assays can be performed virtually anywhere in minutes when time is of the essence. ABI has aligned with major healthcare companies and high volume medical product distributors to maximise product offerings, and to be a major worldwide competitor in diagnostics. Additional information on the Company and its products can be found at www.akersbiosciences.com