Eighth CRISPR patent issued by U.S.; seven more soon to come
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has awarded a new patent to the University of California (UC), University of Vienna, and Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier covering methods of producing a genetically modified cell through the introduction of the Cas9 protein, or a nucleic acid encoding the Cas9 protein, as well as a single molecule DNA-targeting RNA. This patent (U.S. 10,351,878) covers the use of this method in a cell.
Together, the patent issued today and previously issued patents cover compositions and methods that allow for targeting and editing genes in any setting, including within plant, animal, and human cells, as well as modulating transcription. Today’s issuance follows the award of seven other related patents in UC’s steadily growing CRISPR-Cas9 portfolio, with the most recent patent issuing on July 2 covering genome editing in a cell using a CRISPR protein-RNA complex. Additionally, there are seven more applications expected to issue as patents in the coming months, bringing UC’s portfolio to 15 total patents.
“The number of patents associated with the Doudna-Charpentier team’s breakthroughs and the increasing breadth of its CRISPR-Cas9 portfolio reflect upon the significance of these inventions and the range of new possibilities they introduce for the benefit of human welfare,” said Eldora L. Ellison, Ph.D., lead patent strategist on CRISPR-Cas9 matters for UC and a Director at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox. “We are pleased to add this technique to our portfolio as yet another breakthrough that will ultimately enable more people to live healthier lives.”
