Horizon buys more gene editing jewels
Posted: May 8, 2014 at 12:42 pm
Horizon Discoverys breathless pursuit of world leadership in personalised medicines research from its Cambridge UK headquarters has seen the business acquire more gene editing technology.
And CEO, Dr Darrin Disley said Horizon would continue to review the gene editing field for further product expansion and IP licensing opportunities.
His pledge follows a non-exclusive licence agreement with ERS Genomics Ltd a Dublin-based company to access IP relating to the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system.
Horizon has rights to use the technology, based on the work of globally renowned Dr Emmanuelle Charpentier - and her colleagues for a broad raft of uses.
The deal covers research applications including development and sale of research tools, kits and reagents; performance of research services; creation of genetically modified disease model cell lines; development and production of reference standard material for molecular diagnostics; internal target identification and validation research efforts.
Dr Disley believes this is a vital piece of business as Horizon expands its product suite.
The acquisition of the important CRISPR IP is in line with the companys aims outlined at the time of its IPO and further strengthens Horizons long-term position in the market for this cutting edge gene editing technology.
Access to a broader CRISPR IP portfolio will allow the technology to be deployed extensively across Horizons products, services and leveraged R & D and further enhance the attractiveness of the Horizon GENESIS offering to customers.
Dr Disley said: Horizon Discoverys ambition is to be the market leader in CRISPR technology and by expanding our portfolio of intellectual property rights in this area we aim to ensure that our customers, both now and in the future, will have unencumbered access to this innovative new gene editing technology
We believe that the ERS Genomics IP, based on the work of Dr Charpentier and her colleagues, is particularly important and so we are very pleased to be able to add it to our expanding portfolio of patent rights in this area on behalf of our customers.
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Horizon buys more gene editing jewels