US Patent Office Issues Patent to Perma-Fix for Microporous Composite Material and Its Applications
Solidifies IP Portfolio Related to Production of Technetium-99m for Medical Diagnostic Procedures Through Non-Uranium Process
ATLANTA, GA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/05/15 -- Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: PESI) today announced that it has been granted a patent for its Microporous Composite Material and its applications. This patent follows a notice of allowance issued in mid-August 2014 by the US Patent Office to Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., allowing all claims in its patent application. Perma-Fix Medical has a Patent License Agreement with Perma-Fix Environmental Services, for the production of Tc-99m.
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, of Perma-Fix Medical, commented, "We have crossed an important threshold with the issuance of this patent that not only protects our intellectual property, but enables us to move forward unencumbered with our mission of solving the global supply chain issues related to Tc-99m. Our process enables production of this essential medical isotope for diagnostic imaging procedures in a way that is cost-effective and does not require the use of uranium."
The claim of the patent addresses the proprietary resin that Perma-Fix manufactures and includes:
- Selective separation of Tc-99m pertechnetate from Mo-99
- Enhanced sorption of Mo with a holding capacity in excess of 60% of the dry weight of the sorbent
- Sorbent and generator resistant to degradation by gamma and beta radiation and acid environments
- Sorption of selective isotopes from radioactive waste streams
- Removal of heavy metals, such as mercury and arsenic, from waste water streams
About Perma-Fix Medical
Perma-Fix Medical was formed to develop, obtain FDA and other regulatory approval and commercialize a new process to produce Technetium-99 (Tc-99m), the most widely used medical isotope in the world. The new process is expected to solve worldwide shortages of Tc-99m as it is less expensive, does not require the use of government-subsidized, weapons-grade materials and can be easily deployed around the world using standard research and commercial reactors, thereby eliminating the need for special purpose reactors.
Please visit us on the World Wide Web at http://www.medical-isotope.com.
About Perma-Fix Environmental Services
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. is a nuclear services company and leading provider of nuclear and mixed waste management services. The Company's nuclear waste services include management and treatment of radioactive and mixed waste for hospitals, research labs and institutions, federal agencies, including the DOE, the Department of Defense ("DOD"), and the commercial nuclear industry. The Company's nuclear services group provides project management, waste management, environmental restoration, decontamination and decommissioning, new build construction, and radiological protection, safety and industrial hygiene capability to our clients. The Company operates four nuclear waste treatment facilities and provides nuclear services at DOE, DOD, and commercial facilities, nationwide.
Please visit us on the World Wide Web at http://www.perma-fix.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" which are based largely on the Company's expectations and are subject to various business risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements generally are identifiable by use of the words such as "believe", "expects", "intends", "anticipate", "plans to", "estimates", "projects", and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: we have crossed an important threshold with the issuance of this patent that not only protects our intellectual property, but enables us to move forward unencumbered with our mission of solving the global supply chain issues related to Tc-99m; and our process enables production of this essential medical isotope for diagnostic imaging procedures in a way that is cost-effective and does not require the use of uranium. These forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While the Company believes the expectations reflected in this news release are reasonable, it can give no assurance such expectations will prove to be correct. There are a variety of factors which could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those described in this release, including, without limitation, future economic conditions; industry conditions; U.S. and state governmental laws and regulations adopted from time to time; and the additional factors referred to under "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" of our 2013 Form 10-K and Form 10-Q for quarter ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014, and September 30, 2014. The Company makes no commitment to disclose any revisions to forward-looking statements, or any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that bear upon forward-looking statements.
Contacts:
David K. Waldman
US Investor Relations
Crescendo Communications, LLC
(212) 671-1021
Herbert Strauss
European Investor Relations
herbert@eu-ir.com
+43 316 296 316
Source: Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.
Released January 5, 2015