Vermillion Announces U.S. Patent Office Re-Issues Seldi Mass Spectrometry Patent

Vermillion, Inc. has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Reexamination Certificate of U.S. Patent No. 6,734,022, which is directed to a fundamental process of SELDI mass spectrometry.

As a result of the patent reissuance, Bio-Rad Laboratories is expected to pay Vermillion $2.0 million pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement entered into in connection with the sale of Vermillion's instrumentation business to Bio-Rad on November 13, 2006.

"We believe this patent further validates the innovation underlying SELDI technology and look forward to receiving Bio-Rad's payment," said Gail S. Page, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vermillion. "We continue to make excellent progress translating the SELDI-enabled biomarker discoveries into novel, high-value molecular diagnostic tests."