ERS Genomics and Cellular Engineering Technologies (CET), a biotechnology company specialising in cell manufacturing and contract research services, have announced a non-exclusive license agreement granting CET access to the CRISPR/Cas9 patent portfolio.
Working in cell and tissue engineering, CET supports research organisations at the interface of stem cell research and preclinical drug discovery. Its portfolio includes proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell technology, which it says is both virus- and oncogene-free to improve cell line genetic stability, safety, and reproducibility in drug discovery workflows for cell and gene therapies. The license from ERS Genomics will allow CET to develop, manufacture and commercialise its stem cell lines using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.
ERS Genomics holds an exclusive worldwide license from co-founder and recent Nobel prize winner Dr Emmanuelle Charpentier to the foundational intellectual property covering CRISPR/Cas9 for use as a research platform.
Eric Rhodes, CEO of ERS Genomics, said: “CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genome engineering tool that has revolutionised many research areas. At ERS Genomics, we are committed to making this technology broadly available and we are very pleased to support CET, a dynamic and innovative company at the forefront of cell engineering.”
Alan Moy, CEO and co-founder of CET, commented: “We are excited to secure this essential license agreement with ERS Genomics, which will allow us to integrate our stem cell technology with CRISPR/Cas9 to create next generation stem cells that better serve the life science market. This will offer greatly improved cells to produce therapeutic biologics, viral vectors for cell and gene therapy, and vaccines for both the human and animal health sectors.”
