NEW YORK, Jan. 26 (GenomeWeb News) - Genaissance Pharmaceuticals has exclusively licensed commercial rights to a patent held by Vanderbilt University that it said would expand its ability to provide genetic tests for variants of cardiac ion-channel proteins involved in drug-induced cardiac arrhythmias.
Genaissance gained rights to US Patent No. 6,458,542, which covers the screening of patients for susceptibility of drug-induced cardiac arrhythmias by testing for the presence of a common polymorphism in KCNE1, a cardiac ion channel gene. The patent adds to Genaissance's estate of more than 50 issued and pending patents covering five cardiac ion-channel genes associated with Long QT Syndrome.
New Haven, Conn.-based Genaissance developed the Familion Test for cardiac channelopathies, including Long QT Syndrome and Brugada Syndrome.
Terms of the license were not disclosed.
