OLIGON® Technology

With the acquisition of Pathagon in February 2002, we acquired patents, technology and technology patents relating to OLIGON® anti-infective technology, and have licensed rights from Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for the use of thiazine dyes, including methylene blue, for other anti-infective uses.

The OLIGON® technology is based on the antimicrobial properties of silver ions. The broad spectrum activity of silver ions against bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, has been known for decades. OLIGON® materials have application in a wide range of devices and products, including vascular access devices, urology catheters, pulmonary artery catheters and thoracic devices, renal dialysis catheters, orthopedic devices and several other medical and consumer product applications. One application of the OLIGON® technology has been licensed to a third party, which is currently marketing the technology in its line of short-term vascular access catheters. Six U.S. patents for the OLIGON® technology have been granted and additional patents have been filed. In addition, patents have been filed in Europe, Canada and Japan.