Chiron Corporation has been granted United States Patent No. 6,531,276. This patent is directed to nucleic acid testing (NAT) methods for HIV-1. In addition to its application in screening blood donations, this technology plays an important role in the treatment of HIV-positive patients.

"This patent reflects the value of Chiron's pioneering work in HIV dating back to 1984," said Robert Blackburn, vice president and chief patent counsel. "Chiron scientists were the first to clone, sequence and correctly characterize the domains of the HIV-1 genome. As a result of this and further innovations resulting from Chiron's research and development investments, the safety of the world's blood supply has increased dramatically. Chiron has a history of consistently contributing to the improvement of health worldwide through its ground-breaking research and product development."

In 2002, Chiron and its collaborator, Gen-Probe Incorporated, received FDA approval for the Procleix HIV-1/HCV Assay, an NAT test designed to detect the presence of all known HIV-1 subtypes and hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes during the very early stages of infection, when those agents cannot be detected by immunodiagnostic screening technologies. The Procleix HIV-1/HCV Assay is currently available commercially in 16 countries.

Chiron has made its HIV technology available to others. Chiron's intellectual property for its HIV-1 probe-based technology has been licensed to Bayer A.G. and Organon Teknika B.V. Chiron will also now receive royalties on NAT products of F. Hoffmann-LaRoche (Roche) used in the U.S. Chiron already receives royalties for its HIV technology from Roche and other licensees under Chiron's European patent. In October 2000, Chiron and Roche reached a broad patent license agreement for nucleic acid probe-based clinical diagnostics for HIV-1. Under the terms of that agreement, Chiron will now receive from Roche a milestone payment of $10 million. The U.S. patent will expire in 2020.