Sequenom, Inc. , a leading provider of molecular diagnostic applications and genetic analysis products and services, has licensed from Xenomics, Inc., a developer of non-invasive molecular diagnostic tests, exclusive rights to patents (US Patents 6,251,638 and RE 39,920, European Patent EP 0920539) for prenatal research and diagnostic products developed using fetal nucleic acids found in maternal urine. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Sequenom's significant position in non-invasive prenatal diagnostics is further enhanced by these patent rights," stated Harry Stylli, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Sequenom. "Use of transrenal fetal DNA in maternal urine is an innovative approach to prenatal diagnostics that we believe has compelling future commercial potential. We are continuing to evaluate strategic opportunities to broaden and deepen our IP position as we expand our SEQureDx franchise into new areas of prenatal diagnostics and build a long-term leadership position for Sequenom in this growth market."

The license provides Sequenom with exclusive global rights to use transrenal fetal nucleic acids in maternal urine for non-invasive prenatal diagnostics and analysis on a technology-independent basis for all uses, excluding fetal gender determination solely by the presence of Y chromosome. The exclusive rights extend the SEQureDx prenatal diagnostic technology franchise that the Company is building by enabling the development of products for, and the protection of, an additional source of novel, non-invasive fetal sample and testing.

Sequenom's commercial opportunities in prenatal diagnostics are built upon its SEQureDx technology and are enabled by the pioneering inventions and associated intellectual property rights that it has exclusively licensed from Isis Innovation Ltd., the technology transfer company of the University of Oxford, as well as The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Sequenom's portfolio of non-invasive prenatal diagnostic patent rights and patent applications is platform-independent, includes genetic-analysis methods using circulating cell-free fetal nucleic acids from maternal samples, and also includes a portfolio of methylation and nucleic-acid markers. Sequenom is actively expanding its intellectual property position with new technology and new territories. Because Sequenom's license rights are platform-independent, the rights provide exclusivity (with the narrow exception in Europe for RT-PCR-based Rhesus D tests) for development and commercialization of non-invasive prenatal tests on any platform and are not limited to the Company's MassARRAY platform.

Recent additions to Sequenom's extensive IP portfolio include the exclusive rights to fundamental patent rights for digital PCR technologies and methods through a licensing agreement with Genomic Nanosystems, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cytonix Corporation.

Xenomics is a molecular diagnostics company developing tests based on transrenal nucleic acids (Tr-DNA and Tr-RNA) and safe, simple urine collection techniques.

Sequenom is committed to providing the best genetic analysis products that translate the results of genomic science into solutions for noninvasive prenatal diagnostics, biomedical research, translational research and molecular medicine applications, and for research conducted in the agro (agricultural and livestock) industry.