U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ACTION STRENGTHENS
PROTEIN POLYMER'S CORE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
SAN DIEGO,
March 28, 2005 -- Protein Polymer Technologies, Inc. (OTC
Bulletin Board: PPTI.OB) today announced that the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office has reaffirmed the patentability
of
claims in a fundamental patent in the Company's Intellectual
property portfolio of 25 U.S. Patents and comparable foreign
filings. Based on an unsuccessful challenge from a potential
competitor, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued
PPTI an Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate for Patent No.
5,243,038 entitled "Construction of Synthetic DNA
and Its Use in Large Polypeptide Synthesis." The '038
patent was the first U.S. patent to issue, out of a series
of seven patents, claiming protein compositions comprising
repeating units of amino acids, and the DNA sequences encoding
them. The novel repetitive nature of these proteins enables
the creation of bioactive products with unique materials
properties.
The requested reexamination was based on an assertion that
the claimed invention was anticipated or obvious based
on alleged prior art that was not considered by the examiner
during the original prosecution of the patent application.
The result of the reexamination was a second determination
that the invention was patentable. "This outcome further
strengthens our
intellectual property portfolio covering products under
development," said PPTI's Chief Executive Officer,
J. Thomas Parmeter. "A
number of people attempted to develop this technology prior
to our efforts, without success. We are gratified that
the patent office has again recognized our pioneering invention
in the field."
Contacts:
J. Thomas Parmeter, Ph.D.
Chairman
Protein Polymer Technologies, Inc.
(858) 558-6064
info@ppti.com
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About
Protein Polymer Technologies
Protein Polymer Technologies,
Inc., is a San Diego-based company focused on developing
bioactive devices to improve
medical and surgical outcomes. From its inception in
1988, PPTI has been a pioneer in protein design and
synthesis, creating an extensive portfolio of proprietary
biomaterials
for use in the development of bioactive devices. These
genetically engineered biomaterials are high molecular
weight proteins, processed into products with physical
and biological characteristics tailored to specific
clinical performance requirements. Targeted products
include urethral
bulking agents for the treatment of stress urinary
incontinence, dermal augmentation products for cosmetic
and reconstructive
surgery, surgical adhesives and sealants, scaffolds
for wound healing and tissue engineering, and depots
for
local drug delivery. To date, PPTI has been issued
twenty-five U.S. Patents on its core technology with
corresponding
issued and pending patents in key international markets.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements
that are based on management’s views and expectations.
Actual results could differ materially from those expressed
here; further, the Company is not obligated to comment
specifically on those differences. Risks associated with
the Company’s activities include raising adequate
capital to continue operations scientific and product
development uncertainties, competitive products and approaches,
continuing collaborative partnership interest and funding,
regulatory testing and approvals, and manufacturing scale
up. The reader is encouraged to refer to the Company’s
2003
Annual Report Form 10-KSB, and other recent filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of
which are available from the Company, to further ascertain
the risks associated with the above statements.
