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News & Events | Press ReleasesSionex chosen to supply sensor systems to Draper Labs for TB biomarker detection BEDFORD, Mass., April 8, 2008 - Sionex Corporation, a leading producer of commercialized chemical and biological sensors and sub-systems, today announced that it has been selected by The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc. as the supplier of trace-detection systems to put Draper's biomarker technology to use in detecting tuberculosis. Sionex's microAnalyzer(tm), based on the company's Differential Mobility Spectrometry (DMS) technology, will be used by Draper as a portable diagnostic and therapeutic device to detect tuberculosis (TB) or rapidly determine resistant TB using techniques such as trace volatile or breath analysis. "The need for such a portable, accurate device to detect these TB biomarkers is critical:" said Dr. Jose Trevejo, Senior Scientist at Draper Laboratories. "Current technology for field testing is either insensitive or not feasible due to expense. We expect that the use of Sionex's microAnalyzer™ technology will allow for faster diagnostic results in high burden environments where it is impractical to operate laboratory equipment and/or wait days for results." The research team at Draper has identified novel biomarkers of TB that are readily detected by DMS. Utilizing these novel biomarkers, the group is developing a low-cost, rapid diagnostic that is expected to be able to diagnose TB in a much shorter time period than current methods. As importantly, the system is also being developed to rapidly detect drug-resistance which is a growing problem worldwide. "The selection of Sionex's microAnalyzer™ technology for the TB project confirms that our trace chemical sensor offers unparalleled sensitivity and selectivity in complex matrices such as breath or bacterial culture, at a relatively low cost" said Eric Kirleis, Sionex Vice President of Sales & Marketing. "This novel approach to diagnosing TB has the potential to be a high-impact technology as the device would be ideal for use in areas where TB diagnosis is most needed, and yet has real economic drivers to bring the diagnostic tool to those areas of the world." More than 8.8 million new people are infected with TB annually, according to the World Health Organization, and there is an alarming increase in extremely resistant strains of TB as well. The disease is very prevalent in Africa and Southeast Asia, with more than 2.5 million and 2.9 million cases a year, respectively, resulting in more than a half-million deaths in each region annually. While the incidence in the Americas is smaller, the WHO says that TB claims nearly 50,000 lives a year in that region. ABOUT SIONEX CORPORATION Sionex Corporation provides breakthrough chemical and biological sensor chips and subsystems based on its proprietary microDMx detection technology. Sionex maintains its worldwide headquarters and laboratories in Bedford, Massachusetts. The Company is privately held and was founded in 2001 with patented technology exclusively licensed from the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory. Additional information about Sionex Corporation is available at www.sionex.com. ABOUT DRAPER LABORATORY BIOMEDICAL GROUP Draper Laboratory is a non-profit, research and development laboratory. The Lab has a strong nucleus of work in biomedical engineering—specifically in the areas of tissue engineering, drug delivery, sensors and micro-/nano-systems. The Biomedical Engineering Center leverages Draper’s work for the Department of Defense and NASA in the areas of precision engineering, sensors, MEMS/NEMS, and signal processing and works closely with the research hospitals and biotechnology companies in the Boston area to identify unmet needs in healthcare and life sciences. More information can be found at http://www.draper.com/biomed/biomed.html. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning Nano-Proprietary's business, products, and financial results. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted. More information about potential risk factors that could affect our business, products, and financial results are included in Nano-Proprietary's annual report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, and in reports subsequently filed by Nano-Proprietary with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). All documents are available through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov or from Nano-Proprietary's website listed above. Nano-Proprietary hereby disclaims any obligation to publicly update the information provided above, including forward-looking statements, to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. # # # microAnalyzer™ and microDMx™ are trademarks of Sionex Corporation. Forward-looking Statement Some statements in this announcement constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Sionex Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this announcement will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of this information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. EDITORIAL CONTACTS: Eric Kirleis microDMx™ and Protection by Detection™ are trademarks of Sionex Corporation. |
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