ERS Genomics Licenses CRISPR Gene Editing Technology to DefiniGEN to Develop Human Cell Models to Support the Preclinical Development of Therapeutics

DUBLIN, Ireland, and CAMBRIDGE, UK, November 01, 2018 – ERS Genomics Limited and DefiniGEN Ltd announced today a license agreement to provide DefiniGEN with access to ERS Genomic’s CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology patents. DefiniGEN will combine their best-in-class iPSC (induced Pluripotent Stem Cell) differentiation platform with CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate a range of innovative preclinical human models.

“The company’s gene editing technical portfolio has been further strengthened by licensing of this cutting-edge technology and will allow us to produce a range of innovative and unique preclinical human models for the drug discovery sector,” stated Dr Marcus Yeo, CEO of DefiniGEN. “These tools will enable our customers to optimise the preclinical development of therapeutics for multiple rare liver diseases, Type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).”

“The outlook for gene edited iPSCs to become a major contributor to new drug discovery and safer more effective treatments is tremendous,” commented Eric Rhodes, CEO of ERS Genomics. “DefiniGEN has been a leader in the iPSC space for several years now and we’re thrilled to see them bolster their platform through this agreement.”

With this license, DefiniGEN has the right to produce CRISPR-edited cell models, strengthening its core capabilities and keeping DefiniGEN at the forefront of metabolic disease modelling.

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

ERS Genomics was formed to provide broad access to the foundational CRISPR/Cas9 intellectual property held by Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier. Non-exclusive licenses are available for research and sale of products and services across multiple fields including: research tools, kits, reagents; discovery of novel targets for therapeutic intervention; cell lines for discovery and screening of novel drug candidates; GMP production of healthcare products; production of industrial materials such as enzymes, biofuels and chemicals; and synthetic biology: www.ersgenomics.com.

DefiniGEN Ltd. was founded in 2013 to commercialise OptiDIFF, the stem cell production platform developed at the University of Cambridge, UK. The Company has world-leading expertise in the area of iPSC-derived human cell production and metabolic disease modelling. The application of these technologies in drug discovery provides pharmaceutical companies with more predictive in vitro cell products enabling the development of safer and more effective treatments. In addition, the technology platform utilises fully defined and humanised conditions required for the development of regenerative medicine cellular therapies. DefiniGEN builds on intellectual property and knowledge resident at the University of Cambridge Regenerative Medicine Department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and has in-licensed the Yamanaka induced pluripotent stem cell IP portfolio from iPS Academia Japan Inc. https://www.definigen.com/