BASEL, Switzerland, March 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP) reported that the European Patent Office (EPO) has announced its intention to grant a patent broadly covering CRISPR’s in-licensed gene editing technology. The claims are directed to the CRISPR/Cas9 single-guide gene editing system for uses in both non-cellular and cellular settings, including in cells from vertebrate animals such as human or mammalian cells – as well as composition claims for use in any setting, including claims for use in a method of therapeutic treatment of a patient.

“We’re very pleased with the decision by the European Patent Office recognizing the broad applicability of our foundational IP, and we look forward to pursuing additional cases to grant in other jurisdictions globally,” said Dr. Rodger Novak, CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics.

The European patent application (No. 13793997) was the subject of numerous third-party observations or ‘TPOs’ filed by the Broad Institute and others attempting to prevent or delay its grant. Following review of those submissions, the EPO determined that the technical evidence and associated legal arguments did not alter patentability of the inventions by the applicants, and accordingly announced its intention to advance the case to grant in Europe. The full EPO case files, TPOs, and claims intended for grant are available on-line via the EPO’s official website at https://register.epo.org/application?number=EP13793997.

The underlying international patent application is based on the same U.S. priority application that has been involved in an interference proceeding with the Broad et al., which priority application (USSN 61/652086) was filed on May 25, 2012, on behalf of CRISPR’s co-founder Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier (currently a director at the Max-Planck Institute in Berlin) along with the Regents of the University of California and University of Vienna.

The United Kingdom’s Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has also examined the related applications, and likewise considered technical evidence and arguments submitted by third parties, before ultimately reaching similar conclusions to those of the EPO. The UKIPO granted a first UK Patent to the CRISPR/Cas9 single-guide gene editing system for uses in both non-cellular and cellular settings (No. 2518764), and a second UK Patent to ‘chimeric’ CRISPR/Cas9 systems in which the Cas9 protein is modified to provide alternative DNA-modulating activities (No. 2537000).

"We and the licensors of these foundational cases for CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing have long appreciated that Emmanuelle Charpentier along with Jennifer Doudna and their doctoral and post-doctoral colleagues provided innovations that facilitated the CRISPR field,” said Dr. Tyler Dylan-Hyde, Chief Legal Officer of CRISPR Therapeutics. “We also appreciate that despite attempts by third parties to delay or prevent these grants through TPOs or potential oppositions, patent offices are beginning to recognize both the fundamental significance of the teachings by the Charpentier-Doudna team and their wide applicability to CRISPR/Cas gene editing,” noted Dr. Dylan-Hyde. “We look forward to pursuing similar findings in the U.S. under the first-to-invent system – and throughout the approximately 80 other countries our filings cover worldwide, including Europe, all of which are on a first-to-file priority system.”

About CRISPR TherapeuticsCRISPR Therapeutics is a leading gene-editing company focused on developing transformative gene-based medicines for serious diseases using its proprietary CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing platform. CRISPR/Cas9 is a revolutionary technology that allows for precise, directed changes to genomic DNA. The Company's multi-disciplinary team of world-class researchers and drug developers is working to translate this technology into breakthrough human therapeutics in a number of serious diseases. Additionally, CRISPR Therapeutics has established strategic collaborations with Bayer AG and Vertex Pharmaceuticals to develop CRISPR-based therapeutics in diseases with high unmet need. The foundational CRISPR/Cas9 patent estate for human therapeutic use was licensed from the Company's scientific founder Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier. CRISPR Therapeutics is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, with offices in London, United Kingdom, and R&D operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.crisprtx.com.Source: http://ir.crisprtx.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=254376&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2256870