NEW YORK – ERS Genomics said on Tuesday that it has signed a licensing agreement granting Aelian Biotechnology access to its CRISPR-Cas9 patent portfolio to support Aelian's commercial functional genomic screening platform.
Aelian, based in Vienna, combines CRISPR-Cas9 screening techniques with single-cell sequencing to identify and investigate disease targets and drug mechanisms of action. Aelian's platform is applicable across a wide range of cell types, including primary cells, and broadens access to a wider range of complex phenotypes, the company said.
Under the terms of the license from ERS Genomics, Aelian is now able to offer its technology worldwide to pharmaceutical and biotech companies seeking more effective therapies. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
ERS Genomics was formed to disseminate foundational CRISPR-Cas9 intellectual property co-owned by Emmanuelle Charpentier. On Monday, ERS announced that the European Patent Office had upheld one of its core CRISPR patents, co-owned by Charpentier, Jennifer Doudna, and the University of California.
"As a group that understands the power of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to enable cutting-edge research and discovery, we are pleased to be able to secure this important license," Thomas Moser, CEO of Aelian Biotechnology, said in a statement. "We recognize the fundamental nature of the Charpentier patents and appreciate having the ability to gain access to them through ERS Genomics."