DUBLIN & SERAING, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ERS Genomics Limited and Syngulon, a synthetic biology startup developing original genetic technologies using bacteriocins, announced today a non-exclusive license agreement which provides Syngulon with worldwide access to ERS’ CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing intellectual property for use in combination with Syngulon Patent Rights. ERS Genomics holds rights to the foundational CRISPR-Cas9 patent portfolio from Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier, an inventor of the breakthrough gene-editing technology.
“Genome editing has many applications beyond drug discovery and development and making the CRISPR-Cas9 patents available to synthetic biology startups such as Syngulon is a growing and important part of our business. We are thus very pleased to include them in our expanding portfolio of licensees,” said Eric Rhodes, CEO of ERS Genomics.
“By combining modern genetics with synthetic biology, Syngulon is developing its collection of bacteriocins a.k.a. anti-microbial peptides to fight contaminants in different industrial applications. Syngulon outlicenses its patented technologies on a non-exclusive basis and will be able to sublicense ERS’ CRISPR-Cas9 patents as part of a Joint Licensing agreement thus enabling its licensees to benefit from the use of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in implementing Syngulon’s technologies using bacteriocins,” commented Dr Philippe Gabant, Co-founder & CSO of Syngulon.
Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier’s research unveiled the key components and mechanisms of the CRISPR-Cas9 system, leading to the landmark publication with Jennifer Doudna, (Jinek et al., 2012), which laid the foundation for the use of CRISPR-Cas9 as a highly versatile and precise genome editing tool.
Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
ERS Genomics was formed to provide broad access to the foundational CRISPR/Cas9 intellectual property held by Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier. Non-exclusive licenses are available for research and sale of products and services across multiple fields including: research tools, kits, reagents; discovery of novel targets for therapeutic intervention; cell lines for discovery and screening of novel drug candidates; GMP production of healthcare products; production of industrial materials such as enzymes, biofuels and chemicals; and synthetic biology: www.ersgenomics.com.
