KellBenx Secures Exclusive Worldwide License With AdnaGen for Commercializing Patented Antibodies

NEW YORK, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- KellBenx, a biotechnology company focused on the development of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) of genetic and inherited disorders, announced today that it has signed an exclusive agreement with AdnaGen, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alere, Inc., to license specific antibodies. Under the agreement, KellBenx will have exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize the antibodies, which enable the extraction of clinically relevant information from maternal blood through a test that could be widely available as early as 2012.

Fetal Nucleated Red Blood Cells (FNRBCs), which have been identified in maternal blood, can be a source for monitoring and diagnosis of maternal, fetal, and neo-natal health and disease. The KellBenx process involves the enrichment of these FNRBCs with the antibodies licensed from AdnaGen to perform chromosomal or genetic analysis to identify markers of potential disorders. With these antibodies, known as Monoclonal Antibodies with Specificity for Fetal Erythroid Cells, KellBenx will be able to launch clinical trials of its non-invasive test.

"We are delighted to secure a license that allows KellBenx to use the AdnaGen antibodies," said Hassan Bennani, MD., CEO of KellBenx. "This agreement creates the opportunity to begin clinical testing of the exciting laboratory results we have produced over the past year, and it brings us one step closer to bringing a non-invasive prenatal blood test to the market that can detect genetic disorders."

"We're pleased to be able to help KellBenx advance a technology that could have a profound impact on the detection and diagnosis of fetal and neonatal genetic disorders," said Alexander L. Weis, Managing Director of AdnaGen AG. "Our proprietary antibodies will enable the clinical tests that could make this non-invasive testing a reality."

About KellBenx

Founded in 2010, KellBenx, Inc. is a privately-held biotechnology company based in New York City. KellBenx is developing high value, innovative tests that leverage the ability to extract clinically relevant information from blood.  Our focus is to improve women's healthcare and one of our first tests is in the area of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) for genetic disorders. For more information, please call 631-643-2614 or visit kellbenx.com.

SOURCE KellBenx