Gene Editing Companies to Exchange Patented Tech to Develop Cancer Therapies

By Rajaneesh K. Gopinath, Ph.D.

CRISPR Therapeutics and KSQ Therapeutics have come to a mutual agreement to provide each other, a non-exclusive access to certain intellectual properties. This endeavor is an effort to advance their respective cell therapy programs in Oncology.

CRISPR Therapeutics is a gene editing company that uses its proprietary CRISPR/Cas9 platform to develop gene-based medicines. KSQ Therapeutics also uses the CRISPR technology in its drug discovery to advance a pipeline of immunotherapies and drug candidates for cancer therapies. On October 15th, both companies announced their license agreement whereby, they can get access to each other’s intellectual property (IP). Through this agreement, CRISPR Therapeutics could gain valuable information to edit novel genes in its allogeneic CAR-T development platform and KSQ could employ the former’s editing technology to develop its eTIL™ (engineered tumor infiltrating lymphocyte) cell programs.

Both firms expressed their enthusiasm for signing the agreement. “We are thrilled to gain access to CRISPR Therapeutics’ foundational IP estate through this agreement,” said David Meeker, M.D., Chief Executive Officer at KSQ Therapeutics. “Our eTIL™ programs involve editing gene targets in human TILs that were discovered at KSQ by applying our proprietary CRISPRomics® approach to immune cells in multiple in vivo models. This agreement clears an important path for us to be able to bring these programs through development and commercialization, leveraging CRISPR Therapeutics’ proprietary editing technology.”

Samarth Kulkarni, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at CRISPR Therapeutics was equally excited about the decision. “KSQ has built an industry-leading platform to screen for novel gene targets using its technology, and has identified a group of targets that could help unlock the full potential of adoptive cell therapy in oncology. As a result of this license agreement, CRISPR Therapeutics will have the opportunity to bring these novel targets into our leading allogeneic CAR-T development platform to further strengthen our future programs in this important therapeutic area.” he said. The financial agreements are not disclosed at the moment.

References

1. http://www.crisprtx.com/about-us/press-releases-and-presentations/crispr-therapeutics-and-ksq-therapeutics-announce-license-agreement-to-advance-companies-respective-cell-therapy-programs-in-oncology

Author

Rajaneesh K. Gopinath