A Medical Device Daily

Xenomics (New York), a developer of transrenal molecular diagnostics, reported that it has filed a patent application on technology for the detection of human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA, based on Xenomics' transrenal DNA technology. The technology would be applied to urine-based HPV screening.

"The HPV patent will be a valuable addition to Xenomics' extensive transrenal DNA/RNA patent portfolio," said Bruce Huebner, CEO of Xenomics. "The HPV market offers our business a large market opportunity and is one of our leading product development priorities. Our plan is to develop a wide range of tests that utilize our patented urine-based transrenal DNA/RNA technology which include assays to detect mutations in solid tumor cancers and organisms that cause infectious diseases. We will pursue a combined collaboration and development strategy which includes identifying corporate partners in Japan and Europe, while Xenomics focuses on development of products for the North American market."

Approximately 55 million Pap smears and 10 million HPV tests are performed annually in the U.S. The U.S. market for HPV tests, about $240 million in 2008, is growing at a rate of 20% to 40% annually.

The company is focused on the development of DNA and RNA-based tests using Trans-renal DNA or RNA. Its technology uses urine collection and can be applied to a broad range of applications, including tumor detection and monitoring, infectious disease detection, prenatal testing, tissue transplantation, genetic testing for forensic identity determination, drug development, and research to counter bioterrorism.