Tuesday, June 23, 2015

DuPont gains valuable genetic patent license

DuPont Pioneer has gained a license from a university in Lithuania to use its patented technology that greatly improves the accuracy of genetic engineering.

I hope the same technology is open for licensing to lots of other plant breeders.

Researchers at Vilnius University have discovered how to use guided Cas9 genome editing technology that enables plant breeders to zero in on specific genes of interest.

“The superior properties of guided Cas9 assist our scientists to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for growers similar to those realized through marker-assisted plant breeding, but with even greater precision and accelerated development timelines,” said DuPont vice-president Neal Gutterson.

“We are pleased to have had our invention licensed by DuPont,” said Professor Virginijus Siksnys at the Institute of Biotechnology of Vilnius University. 

“The easy programmability of this customizable system brings unprecedented flexibility and versatility for precise genome editing. We have been and are continuing to collaborate with DuPont scientists to improve the technology further.”

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Guided Cas9 genome editing technology is one of several CRISPR-derived tools. CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a feature naturally existing in bacteria. The guided Cas9 technology used for genome editing differs from the natural CRISPR process used to identify and immunize bacteria.

DuPont holds more than 60 patents or has filed patent applications related to the use of CRISPR for bacteria identification and immunization.

Its patent applications include some related to the guided Cas9 genome editing technology.