ConfometRx Announces Patent on International GPCR Structural Analysis

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ConfometRx is pleased to announce that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently awarded Stanford University another important patent covering methods of analyzing G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) crystal structures and selecting GPCR modulators using the proprietary T4-lysozyme (T4-L) fusion technology.  This new patent is also exclusively licensed to ConfometRx.  Importantly, this patent prevents the use of the proprietary T4-lysozyme (T4-L) fusion technology overseas where any resulting GPCR modulators are imported or used in the United States. 

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ConfometRx, a leader in G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) structural characterization and analysis, has exclusive rights to the patented T4-lysozyme (T4-L) protein fusion stabilization technology used to solve at least thirteen novel GPCR structures.  This pioneering protein fusion technology was developed by Stanford Professor and ConfometRx co-Founder, Dr. Brian Kobilka, and Stanford University has been awarded six separate patents on this fundamental technology with other patents still pending both in the United States and abroad. 

The T4-L method has been validated and successfully applied to solve at least thirteen novel GPCR structures, including the beta 2 adrenergic receptor, the D3 dopamine receptor, the CXCR4 receptor, the H1 histamine receptor, the S1P1 receptor, the A2A adenosine receptor, the mu, delta, and kappa-opioid receptors, the M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors which have been reported in Science and Nature. In addition to these published structures, T4-L technology has recently been used to crystallize the M1 muscarinic receptor in ConfometRx, as well as the protease activated receptor PAR1 (also known as the thrombin receptor) in the Kobilka lab.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about ConfometRx's proprietary technology or to discuss a possible partnering arrangement in the United States or abroad, please contact Dickstein Shapiro LLP, Attn: Deborah Fishman, 700 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA 94304, phone: (650) 690-9500, fax: (650) 690-9501, e-mail:  [email protected].

SOURCE ConfometRx