Germany's Merck, Broad Institute Agree on Crispr Intellectual Property License Framework

   By Max Bernhard 
 

German pharmaceuticals company Merck KGaA (MRK.XE) and the Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University have agreed to offer nonexclusive licenses to Crispr intellectual property under their respective control for use in commercial research and product development, the company said Thursday.

"We believe that key Crispr patent holders should come together to simplify and open up access, and this agreement is another example of a partnership that helps maximize and streamline access to these important scientific tools," said Issi Rozen, Chief Business Officer of the Broad Institute.

Crispr is a gene-editing technique that uses an enzyme to make precise changes to genes associated with certain diseases. Merck holds several patents for the Crispr applications.

Under the deal, Merck's intellectual property for Crispr technology, will become available royalty-free to non-profit academic institutions, non-profit business communities and governmental agencies for internal research.

Write to Max Bernhard at [e-mail]; @mxbernhard

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 18, 2019 08:44 ET (12:44 GMT)

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