MORGANTOWN, W.V., Feb. 11, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Protea Biosciences, Inc., a leading developer of new technology for pharmaceutical research, announced today that the company has been granted a U.S. Patent for a novel protein separation technology. Issued January 5, 2010, the patent is titled "Gel Electroelution and sample separation devices and associated processes" (U.S. Patent #7,641,778).
"We are pleased to have our technology recognized by the US patent office," stated Steve Turner, Protea's CEO. "Patents are the key assets of biotechnology, as they represent ownership in new technology and new knowledge. We are building a growing world-class life sciences company based upon our own scientific discoveries as represented by this latest U.S. patent, as well as those of our research collaborators at West Virginia University, Johns Hopkins, and George Washington University," Mr. Turner added.
"Protea employs its protein separation technology to develop new products that enable the recovery of proteins from biological samples. This is a critical area of pharmaceutical research, as proteins are the biological targets of the drug development process," Mr. Turner said.
In 2009, Protea launched a new protein recovery system, the GPR®-800, which simultaneously recovers eight intact protein samples in less than 20 minutes. Current technologies require 3-6 hours per sample with lower efficiencies. The system employs proprietary single-use plastic microchips.
Protea Biosciences, Inc. (www.proteabio.com) develops and commercializes new products and services for improved recovery and analysis of proteins from all types of biological samples, and applies its capabilities to pharmaceutical development partnerships. The company manufactures its products at its Morgantown laboratory facilities, and markets to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic research laboratories worldwide.