VeriChip And RECEPTORS LLC Announce Further Scientific And Technology Details Of Phase II Development For In Vivo Glucose-Sensing RFID Microchip

Main Category: Diabetes
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 15 Oct 2009 - 20:00 PDT

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VeriChip Corporation ("VeriChip") (NASDAQ: CHIP) and its development partner RECEPTORS LLC, a technology company whose AFFINITY by DESIGN™ chemistry platform can be applied to the development of selective binding products, announced further scientific and technology details of the development of Phase II of its in vivo glucose-sensing RFID microchip. The goal of Phase II is to develop a proof-of-principal sensing system consisting of a Combinatorial Artificial Receptors Array (CARA™) modified support and its complementary fluorophore labeled synthetic competitor agent. The companies expect that this sensing system will demonstrate a glucose concentration response in model blood and interstitial fluid matrices.

Phase II is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2010 and will build on Phase I, which successfully demonstrated the bench-top format application of the glucose-sensing system to the detection of glucose levels. Phase II will include expanding on the synthetic competitor agent and CARA binding environment preparation and screening protocols using optimized array and bead workflows. The companies expect that it will optimize candidate glucose-sensing systems for sensitivity and selectivity incorporating model matrices into the screen and workflow process. The companies also expect that Phase II will optimize binding environment and competitor agent synthesis, incorporate cut-off membrane technology and demonstrate a bench-scale fluorescence system prototype.

Robert E. Carlson, Ph.D., President and Chief Science Officer at RECEPTORS LLC, said, "The success of the Phase I proof-of-concept study laid the foundation for the development of a stable and sensitive glucose sensing system. Phase II will build on that success by focusing on the development of a bench scale system prototype that incorporates all of the critical components necessary to demonstrate glucose sensing in the presence of model blood and interstitial fluid matrices. We believe the product of Phase II will be a fully functional, bench scale prototype of the glucose sensing system."

The companies believe their closed cycle glucose-sensing system will succeed where other in vivo glucose-sensing device development programs have failed due to several critical factors:

- the CARA™ and competitor agent components are being built from stable synthetic (versus biomolecule) building blocks;
- the closed-cycle sensing system will not require any external materials or reagents, this is a direct consequence of RECEPTORS' stable binding and competitor technology platforms;
- the closed-cycle sensing system has been designed around components that incorporate biocompatible functionality as an integral part of the sensing system, not as an afterthought or add-on; and
- the competitor agents have been designed to maximize mass change on glucose binding as a foundation for effective signal transduction and, as a consequence, operation of the electronics and the in vivo device.

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 23.6 million people in the United States, or 8 percent of the population, who have diabetes. Furthermore, the total prevalence of diabetes increased 13.5 percent from 2005 to 2007. The successful development and commercialization of VeriChip's glucose-sensing microchip could negate the need for diabetics to draw blood samples multiple times each day to read their blood glucose levels. Instead, VeriChip believes that patients implanted with the glucose-sensing microchip, if successfully developed, could get a rapid reading of their blood sugar with a simple wave of a handheld scanner.

On October 7, 2009, VeriChip announced it received an exclusive license to RECEPTORS' Patent No. 7,504,364 titled "Methods of Making Arrays and Artificial Receptors" and Patent No. 7,469,076 "Sensors Employing Combinatorial Artificial Receptors," to use in conjunction with VeriChip's Patent No. 7,125,382 entitled "Embedded Bio-Sensor System," to develop an in vivo glucose-sensing RFID microchip.

The partners published a white paper in December 2007 entitled, "Development of an Implantable Glucose Sensor," which is available at http://www.verichipcorp.com.

About RECEPTORS LLC

RECEPTORS LLC develops SMART MATERIALS products for laboratory, clinical, industrial hygiene and healthcare use that selectively capture and measure chemical, biochemical and cellular targets from complex biological, environmental or industrial samples. The Company's patented AFFINITY by DESIGN™ platform has broad applicability, ranging from the isolation of disease pathway proteins for drug discovery and production of therapeutic antibodies, to the capture of bacteria and viruses for disinfection and diagnostic purposes. RECEPTORS LLC is a private company based in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota. For further information please visit http://www.receptorsllc.com.

Source
VeriChip Corporation

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