News and announcements from Ribomed.

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June, 2008 - Ribomed chosen to present at LifeScienceFest: FOLSOM, Calif., May 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Fifteen companies nationwide with innovations in medical devices, diagnostics and biotechnology have been chosen to present to investors and industry executives at TechCoire's LifeScienceFest 2008 in Davis, Calif. The two-day conference will be held June 3-4 at the University of California, Davis' Mondavi Center. Read the articles: CNBC and Sacramento Business Journal

May, 2008 - National Cancer Institute grant awarded: Ribomed has been awarded a Phase I SBIR grant from the National Cancer Institute under its Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies Program (IMAT). The grant, entitled “Abscription-Based CpG Methylation Assays for Early Cancer Detection” involves development of a bisulfate-free method for detecting gene methylation associated with tumor suppressor genes.

April, 2008 - Dr. Edward Gelmann now on board: Ribomed has added Dr. Edward Gelmann to its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Gelmann is the chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Medicine and deputy director for clinical research in the cancer center at the Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Gelmann’s lab has been at the forefront of work on NKX3.1, a protein solely expressed in the prostate and shown to be the prostate cancer suppressor protein first downregulated at initiation of prostate cancer. Before coming to CUMC, Dr. Gelmann was chief of the Division of Clinical Sciences in the Department of Oncology at Georgetown University. He also directed the Clinical Research Management Office and the Program in Growth Regulation of Cancer at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is a graduate of Stanford University Medical School and received his oncology training at the National Cancer Institute.

January, 2008 - We've MOVED: Ribomed has relocated its operations to Carlsbad, California in northern San Diego County.

December, 2007 - Ribomed Scientific Advisory Board Member to Receive Nobel Prize in Medicine: Ribomed is thrilled to extend our congratulations to Dr. Mario Capecchi, one of Ribomed’s Scientific Advisory Board members. Dr. Capecchi has been chosen to share this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine. Dr. Capecchi’s pioneering work in gene targeting has applications in virtually all areas of biomedicine. His knock-out mice revolutionized the study of specific gene function.

June 2007 - Ribomed Honored as One of “Arizona Companies to Watch” & “Spotlight Company”: Ribomed Biotechnologies, Inc. was recognized as one of the Arizona Companies to Watch, an awards program hosted by the Arizona Small Business Association in collaboration with the Edward Lowe Foundation. Ribomed received extra attention when they were given a special Spotlight Award for their performance in the area of change. “Dr. Hanna's advocacy has helped "change the future economy of our state." said ASBA CEO Joan Koerber-Walker. Ribomed also received praise from City of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. “Dr. Michelle Hanna and the whole Ribomed team have had just a phenomenal impact on the city of Phoenix. Dr. Hanna and all of Ribomed have been considered the pioneers in biotech engineering, and that effect has been profound on the city of Phoenix”, he said. “We want to thank you.”

June, 2007 - Ribomed receives second patent on abscription-based molecular detection: Ribomed Biotechnologies, Inc. announced that the United States Patent Office has issued its second patent for their novel isothermal molecular detection process, Abscription. The patent, entitled “Molecular Detection Systems Utilizing Reiterative Oligonucleotide Synthesis” covers additional elements in methods for detecting the presence of target molecules by generating multiple copies of short target-specific oligonucleotides. This signal generation method, the basis of Ribomed’s RiboMaker Detection System, is a robust, PCR-free process for detecting proteins and nucleic acids without target amplification. The first patent focused primarily on detecting a DNA modification, methylation of CpG sites that occur very early in cancer and other diseases.

April, 2006 - Ribomed CEO featured in April's issue of In Vitro Diagnostics Technology: Read the article HERE

January, 2006 - Ribomed receives contract from the Department of Homeland Security to detect pathogens in food supply: Read the article HERE

Ribomed Biotechnologies, Recipient of Frost & Sullivan Award: Read the article HERE or HERE

Ribomed relocates to downtown site: Read more HERE

Ribomed Arizona Player in Bioterrorism: Read more: ARTICLE 1 ARTICLE 2

Alberts to head Arizona Cancer Center: Dr. David S. Alberts, a member of Ribomed’s Scientific Advisory Board, has been appointed Director of the Arizona Cancer Center. Alberts is a Professor of medicine, pharmacology, nutritional science, and public health at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and is a widely recognized leader in the field of cancer research. Alberts has been the director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the Arizona Cancer Center since 1989 and has served as the Center’s deputy director in the past. This appointment, which officially begins January 1, 2005, comes on the heels of a distinguished career that includes over four hundred peer reviewed publications and positions on a number of editorial boards.

Phoenix biotech firm gets grant to detect airborne pathogens: The Arizona Republic Mar. 24, 2004 Article by Jodie Snyder.

Ribomed receives $3 million in contracts to fight bioterrorism: Phoenix, Arizona (January 12, 2004) – Ribomed Biotechnologies, Inc. has just received over $3 million in contracts to use their RiboMakerâ Detection System in a portable sensor for germs used in bio warfare. Funds for the project come from the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the new HISSS Program (Hand-held Isothermal Silver Standard Sensor). The program will fund development and production of a hand-held device to be used by military personnel for rapid detection of infectious organisms, including deadly bacteria and viruses like anthrax and smallpox. The organisms will be detected using a novel process called abscription™, for abortive transcription, which was invented by Ribomed’s founder and CEO, Dr. Michelle Hanna. The process can be used to detect protein, DNA, and RNA molecules that are specifically associated with these different bio warfare agents.

The HISSS program is a scientific and engineering collaboration involving Ribomed and five organizations from outside Arizona. DARPA and the U.S. Army Soldiers Chemical and Biological Command (SBCCOM) will be funding and overseeing the project. The device will be built by Northrop-Grumman and will utilize sample preparation technologies developed by MFSI, DNA amplification technologies developed by Ionian Technologies, and RNA and protein detection technologies developed by Ribomed. Staff from each of the participating organizations will meet at Ribomed’s new facilities in Phoenix for a kickoff meeting on in January.

This $3 Million funds just the first 12 months of what is expected to be a 3.5 year project. In the first phase, Ribomed will focus on optimizing abscription for the detection of RNA viruses and protein toxins in solution. The Company will have fourteen scientists and researchers working on its portion of the project. During the second phase of the project, abscription will be adapted for use in a portable micro fluidic device.

The RiboMaker™ Detection System is a proprietary, specific and sensitive signal-generation technology that utilizes the Company’s RiboLogs® and isothermal abscription (abortive transcription) process. RiboMaker® is a versatile platform for the production of thousands to millions of signals from a single target nucleic acid or protein, without the use of PCR or gel electrophoresis, making it highly amenable to automated technologies and high throughput screening.

Ribomed Biotechnologies, Inc., was originally founded as Designer Genes in 1999 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Ribomed develops technologies and reagents for the detection of RNA, DNA and protein and the analysis of SNPs and CpG methylation sites. Ribomed is dedicated to the early detection of diseases and the agents that cause them.

See related January 23, 4004 Flinn Foundation story HERE

Ribomed Selected to Present at World’s Best Technologies 2005: Phoenix, Arizona (November 2004) – Ribomed Biotechnologies, Inc. has been pre-selected to present its signature RiboMaker® Detection System at the World’s Best Technologies 2005 Conference in Arlington, Texas in March of next year. The RiboMaker® Detection System is a robust, isothermal, PCR-free method for detecting and quantifying proteins and nucleic acids. The core signal-generation technology, Abscription™, utilizes the reiterative synthesis of short aborted RNA transcripts (Abscripts™) by RiboMaker® Abscriptase™ to generate thousands to millions of quantifiable signals from a single target nucleic acid or protein, making it highly amenable to automated technologies and high throughput screening.

Ribomed Biotechnologies, Inc. is a translational genomics company developing rapid, specific, and robust tests for the early detection and characterization of diseases and their causative agents and the screening of drugs for treatment.

Ribomed is dedicated to improving life through early disease detection, non-invasive monitoring, and patient-specific therapies.

Ribomed CEO Featured on BioTech Today Radio Show: San Diego, California (November 2004) – Dr. Michelle Hanna, Founder and CEO of Ribomed Biotechnologies, Inc. was interviewed on “BioTech Today,” hosted by Dr. David Lemberg and Sam Kephart. “BioTech Today” is a New Media Internet radio show, carried by World Talk Radio, helping to promote the success of the biotechnology and nanotechnology industries. The show provides a supportive conversational environment, allowing industry leaders to present their mission, message, and products to a wide-ranging and inclusive international audience.

Ribomed Biotechnologies, Inc. is a translational genomics company developing rapid, specific, and robust tests for the early detection and characterization of diseases and their causative agents and the screening of drugs for treatment.

Ribomed is dedicated to improving life through early disease detection, non-invasive monitoring, and patient-specific therapies.

Ribomed Awarded $502K NIH Phase I SBIR Grant: Phoenix, Arizona (June 1, 2003) - Ribomed, a biotechnology company developing rapid, PCR-free molecular detection assays, has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. This $502,000 grant will be used to further development of an isothermal signal amplification system based upon the company's proprietary Abscription™ process. The assay under development will be used for the rapid detection and quantification of target DNA or RNA in blood or tissue samples.

Ribomed Registers Trademark for RiboLog®: Phoenix (April 15, 2003) – Today Ribomed was awarded a registered trademark by the US Patent and Trademark Office for their RiboLog products. RiboLogs are a class of novel nucleotide analogs tagged with signal generating reporter groups that can be enzymatically incorporated into RNA or DNA at extremely high efficiencies. The reporters can include fluorescent tags, cross linkers, antibody-specific haptens, metals, and other tags for immobilization or for production of a detectable, quantifiable signal. RiboLogs are the basis of Ribomed’s RiboMaker™ Detection System, which can be used to detect both the presence of and changes in specific DNA sequences, the presence of RNA and proteins that are associated with specific diseases, or the agents that cause diseases.

Ribomed Receives DARPA Contract for Pathogen Work: Phoenix (November 19, 2002): Ribomed (trade name for Designer Genes, Inc.), a valley-based translational genomics company developing novel genetic detection technologies, was awarded a $211,000 contract from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the primary research and development center for the Department of Defense. The primary goal of the contract is to develop the signal-generating system for a portable device that will allow the rapid and specific detection of anthrax and other biological materials in humans or the environment. This will be a field device which can detect the presence of specific pathogens without the need for sophisticated, laboratory-based analysis.

“Ribomed is currently completing development of its RiboMaker™ Detection System, a rapid, isothermal, signal amplification system for the detection of target DNA, RNA, or protein. This should be the ideal signal generation chemistry for this device,” said Dr. Michelle Hanna, Ribomed president and CEO. “It is not a target amplification technology, nor a true signal amplification technology. Rather, it uses our proprietary technology, Abscription™. It will greatly facilitate the early detection of pathogens in the field.”

Most current technologies used for the detection and identification of anthrax require that samples be processed in a laboratory using expensive and sophisticated equipment. Most involve the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is inhibited by components in blood and many of the detergents used in pathogen DNA isolation. Abscription is far more robust and is not inhibited by many of these compounds. Thus, it is ideal for a field device of this type.

Designer Genes, Inc. Changes Its Name to Ribomed: Phoenix (November 18, 2002). Designer Genes, Inc., a valley-based translational genomics company specializing in the development of products for the early detection of diseases such as cancer and anthrax, is now doing business under the name Ribomed. The name change was made to more accurately reflect the company’s focus on ribonucleic acid (RNA) based technology.

“We changed the name because Ribomed more accurately represents our technology,” said company president and CEO, Dr. Michelle Hanna. “We are developing medical products utilizing proprietary nucleic acid chemistry that is primarily based on RNA. Our future therapeutics will be “ribotoxic drugs”, which will impair RNA metabolic pathways to inhibit uncontrolled cell division. Ribomed captures that dual focus and is unique in the marketplace.”

ACE Awards Ribomed “Talk of the Town” Phoenix (November 18, 2002): Ribomed (trade name of Designer Genes, Inc.), a company developing genetic-based disease detection technologies, was honored with “The Talk of the Town” award for Arizona Corporate Excellence (ACE) this month. The ACE Awards, sponsored by the Arizona Business Journal, KPMG, Brown & Bain, P.A., Comerica, and Momentum Interactive, is a newly created program to honor the 100 fastest growing companies in Arizona.

Ribomed, currently in its third year of operation in Phoenix, has received local attention because of its biotechnology and translational genomics focus and the efforts of company president and CEO, Dr. Michelle Hanna, to help recruit the International Genomics Consortium (IGC) to Arizona. Hanna was a member of the Governor’s Task Force on IGC, serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona BioIndustry Cluster, and continues to work with community leaders on the Flinn Foundation Project Steering Committee to develop a Roadmap for Arizona’s Future in the Biosciences.

“The ACE award is such an honor,” Hanna said. “It’s great to know that Ribomed has people talking and thinking about the phenomenal potential for growth in the biotechnology sector here in Arizona. We hope that having the IGC here will help to attract other biotechnology companies to the state and spawn new companies to commercialize technologies already under development at our Universities.”