NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – DNA Script announced today that it has acquired an exclusive license from Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry (DCC) to a novel DNA building block for use in enzymatic DNA synthesis.
The building blocks, which were initially developed by DCC affiliate Firebird Biomolecular Sciences, are reversible terminator nucleotides with cleavable protective groups that help in controlling the enzymatic synthesis process, according to DNA Script COO Sylvain Gariel.
"Modified DNA building blocks in this technology transfer were initially created for enzyme-based DNA sequencing, mutation detection, and DNA tagging and processing," DCC CEO Steven Benner, who invented the technology, said in a statement. "However, the modifications can be compatible with enzyme-based DNA synthesis — exactly the business that DNA Script leads."
Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, DNA Script said that the agreement may be expanded to include the commercialization of new DCC technologies developed with National Institutes of Health funding.
In September, Paris-based DNA Script closed an €11 million Series A financing round led by Illumina Ventures.