Merck, the leading science and technology company, has announced that the European, Israeli, South Korean and U.K. intellectual property offices have issued formal notices allowing seven additional Merck patent application claims covering CRISPR gene-editing technology, bringing the number of patents to 20 worldwide.Merck says it is a leader in gene-editing technology, with 20 CRISPR patents worldwide.

 

“It is encouraging to see this important body of scientific work recognized with the grants of these latest CRISPR patents,” saidUdit Batra, Member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. “Our ambition is to continue growing our CRISPR intellectual property portfolio with technologies such as paired Cas9 nickases, for reducing off-target effects, and proxy-CRISPR, which offers researchers more experimental options to accelerate drug development and access to new therapies.”

 

In addition toEurope,Israel, U.K. andSouth Korea, Merck has CRISPR-related patents in the following regions: U.S., Canada, Australia, China and Singapore. The company was awarded its first foundational patent in Australia covering CRISPR integration in 2017, and its first U.S. CRISPR patent for proxy-CRISPR in 2019.

Merck says it is now a leader in gene-editing technology, with 20 CRISPR patents worldwide.