2. Molecular Light Technology MLT Research Limited 5 Chiltern Close Cardiff Industrial Park CF14 5DL www.mltresearch.com Stuart Woodhead

3. The Invention

4. Why Sensitivity? 10 20 10 19 10 18 10 17 10 16 10 15 10 14 10 13 10 12 10 1110 10 9 10 8 10 7 10 6 100,000,000,000,000,000,000------- 10,000,000,000,000,000,000------- 1,000,000 000 000,000,000------- 100,000,000,000,000,000------- 10,000,000,000,000,000------- 1,000,000,000,000,000------- 100,000,000,000,000------- 10,000,000,000,000------- 1,000,000,000,000------- 100,000,000,000------- 10,000,000,000------- 1,000,000,000------- 100,000,000------- 10,000,000------- 1,000,000------- Legal limit (UK) Glucose Lethal dose amatoxin Alcohol Tumour antigens Hormones Viruses

5. Milestones 1977 Project started 1978 First patent application 1982 Synthesis of acridinium label 1984 Measurement of TSH 1986 First commercial immunoassay 1989 First commercial probe assay 1991 Launch of ACS-180 1997 Centaur 2001 Blood Bank tests 2003 TIGRIS

6. 1988MLT incorporated 1991First premises - main activity contract R & D 1992Started manufacturing 1996Acquired funding 1997Business strategy developed TCS programme to monitor specific gene expression 1998Licensing of genetic probe technology The Move 1999 Implementation of new technology 2000 First gene expression test launched 2003 Acquisition by Gen-Probe Company History

7. Molecular Light Technology Year1995199820002002 No of Staff 7 12 15 25 Turnover8122,0683,1134,000 (thousands)

8. Purpose of the Business To become a major supplier of high technology tests for industrial, pharmaceutical and toxicological applications. To achieve recognition as a centre of excellence for the development of intellectual property, novel technologies and products. To maintain profitable growth and create long term value for all stakeholders.

9. Growing the Business Protecting the technology Finding the right people to work with Understanding clearly roles and responsibilities Knowledge transfer Knowing when to stop

10. Intellectual Property High value Patent costs Patent prosecution Licensing Infringement Litigation

11. Product Development Scale up from prototype Documentation Raw materials Validation Quality control

12. The Products Immunoassays for diabetes research (proinsulin) Gene-based assays for toxicological investigation (CYP) Assays for enzymes involved in viral/bacterial replication (ligase, helicase, primase etc)

13. Target Gene mRNA No Light AE AE-probe Protection Hydrolysis Hybridisation Protection Assay (HPA)

14. Cell Suspension Treated with Benzopyrene

15. The Future Human toxicology Hepatotoxicity Neurotoxicity Chemical carcinogenesis Drug discovery Food and water microbiology

16. New Intellectual Property 8 patents filed since 1997 Genetic Biosensors Drug discovery Fuel marking Chemiluminescent beacons

17. The Lessons Patent where possible Develop educated conviction Be persistent Have a strategy Continue to innovate Learn from mistakes