NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – ATCC, a biological materials resource and standards organization, has licensed CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering technology from the Broad Institute.
ATCC said it plans to use the technology to develop new products and services for basic and translational research, similar to an EML4-ALK Fusion isogenic cell line the firm has already developed using the technology, which can be used for drug discovery and molecular diagnostics of non-small cell lung cancer. The newly developed cell line is more sensitive to the ALK inhibitor crizotinib when compared to its parent cell line and serves as a vital model to study cell signaling pathways in cancer as well as in drug screening, the firm said.
"The rapid growth of CRISPR/Cas9 applications provides a perfect environment for ATCC to leverage our comprehensive portfolio of cells, microorganisms, and services to meet the unmet demands of global researchers to support their scientific discoveries," Mindy Goldsborough, VP and General Manger of ATCC Cell Systems, said in a statement. The licensing agreement "allows ATCC scientists to unlock the full potential of our unique portfolio for creating standards for basic and translational research."
The agreement is the latest deal the Broad has cut to license CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Last month, it signed a similar agreement with Transposagen, and has licensed CRISPR to several other companies including GE Healthcare and Sigma-Aldrich.