UC undeterred by CRISPR patent ruling

A University of California group is optimistic that its CRISPR IP rights will cover use of the technology in all cell types, despite a U.S. patent board's ruling Wednesday that an opposing group's IP is patentable separately. The ruling, issued by the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeals board, terminated an interference proceeding which could have blocked a patent held by The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and co-inventor Feng Zhang.

The ruling may require gene editing companies to license CRISPR IP from both parties, according to a lawyer representing UC. Lynn Pasahow, an attorney with Fenwick & West who is representing the school, said on a conference call Wednesday that the university and co-inventors Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier anticipate the issuance of their patent, which would cover CRISPR's use in all cell types. That would include its use in eukaryotic cells, which Broad's patent covers...