December 7, 2004

Ottawa Biotech Start Up Wins Global Top 100 Innovators Award

Ottawa-based start-up DNA Genotek has captured the attention of Red Herring's editors by changing the way genetic researchers collect DNA. The Top 100 Innovators Award recognizes companies from across the globe that are driving change and innovation in the marketplace. Winners are selected based on their achievements with respect to technology, financing, marketing, sales, service, leadership and strategic thinking. As one of only three Canadian companies making the list, DNA Genotek shares the recognition with technology influencers such as Amazon.com, Google and IBM.

The topic of DNA and genetic research proliferates in the media, with daily breakthroughs promising major improvements in healthcare. Genetic research is expected to impact most of the population as advances revolutionize the way health conditions and diseases are diagnosed, treated and prevented. Already, genetic testing enables predictive medicine and the proactive management of many serious ailments, such as breast or colon cancer. Genetic researchers are focusing efforts to develop additional genetic tests that can significantly increase the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare worldwide. To accomplish these goals, genetic research hinges on large quantities of one essential resource – DNA.

While many biotechnology companies focus on DNA analysis techniques, very few have evaluated how to dramatically improve traditional DNA collection processes. Using an innovative and practical approach, DNA Genotek developed an easy, reliable and cost-effective method for collecting DNA. Their lead product, the Oragene•DNA™ DNA Self-Collection Kit collects and preserves DNA from saliva and is ideal for scientists who require large amounts of DNA for their experiments. Oragene•DNA™ is designed with both patients and researchers in mind. For patients, providing a saliva sample is easy and painless compared to providing a blood sample. For researchers, Oragene•DNA offers a cost-effective and reliable approach to obtaining large amounts of DNA. These benefits allow researchers to quickly and easily obtain DNA samples from large populations of people and accelerate their research efforts.

"DNA Genotek is delighted to be a recipient of the Red Herring Top 100 Innovators Award in recognition of our innovative approach to solving an important issue in health research," said Ian Curry, president and CEO of DNA Genotek. "We owe many thanks to the hundreds of top-tier health research facilities around the world who have and are changing their DNA collection method to Oragene•DNA. The paradigm shift from other methods to Oragene•DNA as the optimal way to collect DNA is quickly gaining momentum. We are proud that our innovative approach to DNA collection is helping researchers improve the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare worldwide."