NEW HAVEN, October 8, 2001 /– Molecular Staging Inc. (MSI) announced today that it received a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant to develop a method of detecting rare Human Papillomavirus (HPV) transformed cells using Rolling Circle Amplification Technology (RCATTM).

MSI received the SBIR grant in order to develop a method using RCAT to analyze individual cells within a cervical sample for the presence of HPV DNA. HPV analysis of individual cells could distinguish between transient benign infections and cells that are progressing to cancer. The goal is to help clarify ambiguous cytology results and better identify women who are at risk of developing cervical cancer.

Testing for the presence of HPV DNA in cervical samples is considered useful as an additional diagnostic tool when Pap smear screening of cervical samples produces ambiguous cytology results known as ASCUS.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus and is believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer. Potential outcomes of MSI’s work in this area include a reduction in the need for unnecessary biopsies as well as the earlier detection of cervical cancer.

The utility and benefits of RCAT in molecular tissue pathology are described more fully in American Journal of Pathology 2001 159(1): 63-69; Rolling Circle Amplification – A New Approach to Increase Sensitivity for Immunohistochemistry and Flow Cytometry.

MSI is a life science company developing a portfolio of technologies for detection and measurement of proteins and nucleic acids across a broad range of applications, including proteomics, genomics, pharmacogenomics and diagnostics. One of MSI’s core technologies is Rolling Circle Amplification Technology (RCATTM), an amplification process that has significant advantages in terms of sensitivity, multiplexing, dynamic range and scalability. MSI has exclusively licensed RCATTM from Yale University. Additional information about MSI can be found at www.molecularstaging.com.