CRISPER-Cas9 - Intellia Therapeutics

We previously wrote about the science of CRISPER-Cas9. Over the weekend Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) released data at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy Annual Meeting with this press release Intelliatx.com. With this news the company may be getting closer to in human clinical trials for the first time. Intellia Therapeutics is our favorite Crisper-Cas9 company for many reasons, but primarily because of their collaborations with Novartis, and Regeneron. Still many years away from any FDA approval for any indication, the company is worth monitoring, along with it's competitors Crispr, Editas, and Cellectis. Thank you for reading!

CRISPER-Cas9

We first wrote about the science here Crisper-Cas9.  This week, the messy patent issues have started to get resolved.  So, who are the winners and the losers, in this first round of patent battles.  The answer to those questions depends on what part of the country the original patents were filed from.  This link also has a background Broad Institute.

UC Berkeley: 
Caribou, CRSP, NTLA

MIT & Broad Institute: 
EDIT
Plants, livestock, humans. Will not have to re-negotiate intellectual property licenses.    

Both parties patents are valid, but the area that Crisper-Cas9 can be used varies depending on where the patents originated.  There is also the issue of US patents, and those outside the US.  We still have some outside US legal issues to be confirmed.  But as it stands today, EDITAS (EDIT), looks like the company least effected by the early legal decisions. Thank you for reading. 
 

CRISPER-Cas9

CRISPR-Cas9 is a new gene-editing technology that has gained enormous press the last few years for it's accuracy.  The science is being used to address the underlying genetic causes of human disease. The advantages seen thus far, is that it is faster, less expensive, and more accurate than prior gene-editing technology.  CRISPR-cas9 enables geneticists and medical researchers to edit parts of the genome, by cutting out, replacing or adding parts to the DNA sequence.  There are a few publicly traded companies.  The companies include the following. 

Intellia Therapeutics:  NTLA
Editas Medicine:  EDIT
Cellectis:  CLLS
Crispr Therapeutics: CRSP

Bottom Line:  The above names are worth following, and learning more about the science of CRISPR-cas9 gene-editing.  Thank you for reading.