PharmaSeq, of Monmouth Junction, NJ, has received US Patent Number 6,376,187, “Electronically-indexed solid-phase assay for biomolecules.” This patent covers methods and materials for detecting biomolecules using beads with attached microtransponders that have information relevant to the assay encoded in their memory elements. The patent also describes a device that encodes the information in the transponders and reads the information. A similar patent, Number 6,361,950, was issued March 23rd.
Hybridon of Cambridge, Mass., has received US Patent Number 6,383,752, “Pseudo-cyclic oligonucleobases.” This patent covers a new class of oligonucleotides, “pseudo-cyclic oligonucleotides” (PCOs), that contain two oligonucleotide segments attached through their 3’-3’ or 5’-5’ ends. One segment has some functionality, and another is complementary to the 3’ or 5’ end of the functional segment. This complementary aspect enables PCOs to form intramolecular pseudo-cyclic structures, and to be more stable than conventional oligonucleotides. A fluorophore and quencher molecule attached to the PCOs will fluoresce in the linear configuration and be quenched in the cyclic formation.