Editas Medicine Announces U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Remands CRISPR Patent Interference to Patent Trial and Appeal Board
Editas Medicine (NASDAQ: EDIT) announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has partially affirmed and partially vacated the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's (PTAB) previous decision regarding CRISPR/Cas9 patent interference. The case involves patents between the University of California, University of Vienna, and Emmanuelle Charpentier versus the Broad Institute.
The company emphasized that its in-licensed CRISPR/Cas12a patents are unaffected by this decision. Editas holds exclusive licenses to Harvard and Broad Institute's Cas9 patent estates for human medicine development. The company maintains a robust IP portfolio including fundamental patents for both CRISPR/Cas12a and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in human cells across multiple jurisdictions including the US, Europe, China, and Japan.
Editas Medicine (NASDAQ: EDIT) ha annunciato che la Corte d'Appello degli Stati Uniti per il Circuito Federale ha parzialmente confermato e parzialmente annullato la decisione precedente del Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) riguardante l'interferenza brevettuale sul CRISPR/Cas9. Il caso coinvolge brevetti tra l'Università della California, l'Università di Vienna e Emmanuelle Charpentier contro il Broad Institute.
L'azienda ha sottolineato che i suoi brevetti CRISPR/Cas12a concessi in licenza non sono stati influenzati da questa decisione. Editas detiene licenze esclusive sui portafogli di brevetti Cas9 di Harvard e Broad Institute per lo sviluppo di terapie umane. La società mantiene un solido portafoglio di proprietà intellettuale che include brevetti fondamentali sia per il gene editing CRISPR/Cas12a sia per CRISPR/Cas9 nelle cellule umane, in molteplici giurisdizioni tra cui USA, Europa, Cina e Giappone.
Editas Medicine (NASDAQ: EDIT) anunció que el Tribunal de Apelaciones de los Estados Unidos para el Circuito Federal ha confirmado parcialmente y anulado parcialmente la decisión previa de la Junta de Juicio y Apelación de Patentes (PTAB) sobre la interferencia de patentes CRISPR/Cas9. El caso involucra patentes entre la Universidad de California, la Universidad de Viena y Emmanuelle Charpentier contra el Broad Institute.
La compañía destacó que sus patentes CRISPR/Cas12a con licencia no se ven afectadas por esta decisión. Editas posee licencias exclusivas sobre las carteras de patentes Cas9 de Harvard y Broad Institute para el desarrollo de medicinas humanas. La empresa mantiene un sólido portafolio de propiedad intelectual que incluye patentes fundamentales para la edición genética CRISPR/Cas12a y CRISPR/Cas9 en células humanas en múltiples jurisdicciones, incluyendo EE.UU., Europa, China y Japón.
Editas Medicine (NASDAQ: EDIT)는 미국 연방순회항소법원이 CRISPR/Cas9 특허 간섭에 관한 특허심판원(PTAB)의 이전 결정을 일부 인용하고 일부 취소했다고 발표했습니다. 이 사건은 캘리포니아 대학교, 비엔나 대학교, 에마뉘엘 샤르팡티에와 브로드 연구소 간 특허 분쟁과 관련되어 있습니다.
회사는 자사의 라이선스 받은 CRISPR/Cas12a 특허는 이번 결정에 영향을 받지 않는다고 강조했습니다. Editas는 인간 의학 개발을 위한 하버드 및 브로드 연구소의 Cas9 특허 포트폴리오에 대한 독점 라이선스를 보유하고 있습니다. 또한 미국, 유럽, 중국, 일본 등 여러 관할 구역에서 인간 세포 내 CRISPR/Cas12a 및 CRISPR/Cas9 유전자 편집에 대한 기본 특허를 포함한 강력한 지적 재산권 포트폴리오를 유지하고 있습니다.
Editas Medicine (NASDAQ : EDIT) a annoncé que la Cour d'appel fédérale américaine a partiellement confirmé et partiellement annulé la décision précédente du Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) concernant l'interférence de brevets CRISPR/Cas9. L'affaire concerne des brevets entre l'Université de Californie, l'Université de Vienne et Emmanuelle Charpentier contre le Broad Institute.
L'entreprise a souligné que ses brevets CRISPR/Cas12a sous licence ne sont pas affectés par cette décision. Editas détient des licences exclusives sur les portefeuilles de brevets Cas9 de Harvard et du Broad Institute pour le développement de médicaments humains. La société possède un portefeuille solide de propriété intellectuelle, comprenant des brevets fondamentaux pour l'édition génétique CRISPR/Cas12a et CRISPR/Cas9 dans les cellules humaines, couvrant plusieurs juridictions, notamment les États-Unis, l'Europe, la Chine et le Japon.
Editas Medicine (NASDAQ: EDIT) gab bekannt, dass das US-Berufungsgericht für den Bundesbezirk teilweise die frühere Entscheidung des Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) zur CRISPR/Cas9-Patentstreitigkeit bestätigt und teilweise aufgehoben hat. Der Fall betrifft Patente zwischen der University of California, der Universität Wien und Emmanuelle Charpentier gegen das Broad Institute.
Das Unternehmen betonte, dass seine lizenzierten CRISPR/Cas12a-Patente von dieser Entscheidung unberührt bleiben. Editas hält exklusive Lizenzen an den Cas9-Patentportfolios von Harvard und dem Broad Institute für die Entwicklung von Humanmedikamenten. Das Unternehmen verfügt über ein starkes IP-Portfolio, das grundlegende Patente für die Genomeditierung mit CRISPR/Cas12a und CRISPR/Cas9 in menschlichen Zellen in mehreren Rechtsgebieten, darunter den USA, Europa, China und Japan, umfasst.
- Company's CRISPR/Cas12a patents remain unaffected by the decision
- Maintains extensive IP portfolio across multiple jurisdictions
- Holds exclusive licenses to Harvard and Broad Institute's Cas9 patent estates
- Only a fraction of patents are involved in ongoing interference proceedings
- Patent interference case remanded back to PTAB, extending uncertainty
- Partial vacation of previous PTAB decision could impact some CRISPR/Cas9 patents
Insights
Federal Circuit's remand of CRISPR patent dispute creates uncertainty for Editas' Cas9 patent portfolio but doesn't impact its broader IP assets.
The Federal Circuit's decision to affirm-in-part and vacate-in-part the PTAB's previous ruling in the CRISPR patent interference case represents a mixed development for Editas Medicine. The partial vacatur and remand creates continued uncertainty regarding the ownership of specific CRISPR/Cas9 patents for editing in human cells - a foundational technology for gene editing therapies.
This ruling specifically concerns the dispute between the Broad Institute (whose patents Editas licenses) and UC Berkeley/University of Vienna/Emmanuelle Charpentier over who first invented CRISPR/Cas9 editing in eukaryotic cells. The remand means the PTAB must reconsider aspects of its previous decision, extending the timeline for final resolution of this critical intellectual property dispute.
However, Editas has strategically positioned itself with a diversified IP portfolio. Importantly, the company's patents covering the alternative CRISPR/Cas12a system remain completely unaffected by this decision. Additionally, Editas emphasizes that only a fraction of its licensed Cas9 patents are involved in this interference proceeding.
From a patent strategy perspective, Editas maintains exclusive licenses to Harvard and Broad's Cas9 patent estates specifically for developing human medicines - the core of its business model. The company also holds patents covering fundamental aspects of both CRISPR systems in human cells across multiple international jurisdictions.
While this ruling extends uncertainty over some key patents, it doesn't immediately impact Editas' ability to license its technology or affect existing licenses. The ultimate PTAB decision following remand will be crucial in determining the strength of Editas' position in the competitive CRISPR therapeutic landscape.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Editas Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq: EDIT), a pioneering gene editing company, today announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed-in-part and vacated-in-part the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTABs) previous decision and remanded it back to the PTAB for further review in the U.S. patent interference involving specific patents for CRISPR/Cas9 editing in human cells between the University of California, the University of Vienna, and Emmanuelle Charpentier and the Broad Institute (Broad). The Company’s in-licensed patents covering CRISPR/Cas12a are not at issue in the interference and are unaffected by this decision.
“We remain confident in the strength of our IP portfolio and that it will continue to generate significant value both now and in the future. This decision does not affect our ability to license our IP, nor does it change existing licenses we have issued. We remain focused on executing on our strategy, which includes licensing this foundational IP and developing transformative gene editing medicines for people living with serious diseases,” said Gilmore O’Neill, M.B., M.M.Sc., President and Chief Executive Officer, Editas Medicine. “We remain optimistic that the PTAB will ultimately render a decision in favor of Broad.”
O’Neill added, “Editas holds a large portfolio of foundational U.S. and international patents and is the exclusive licensee of Harvard University’s and the Broad Institute's Cas9 patent estates covering Cas9 use for developing human medicines. It is important to note that only a fraction of these patents are currently involved in these ongoing interference proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).”
Editas Medicine’s foundational intellectual property includes issued patents covering fundamental aspects of both CRISPR/Cas12a and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in all human cells. Successfully editing this cell type is essential to making CRISPR-based medicines. Additionally, the Company holds a wide range of fundamental intellectual property directed to all the components of its gene editing platform including product-enabling and product-specific intellectual property covering the use of CRISPR/Cas12a and CRISPR/Cas9 for gene editing of human cells in the United States, Australia, Europe, Japan, China, and other jurisdictions.
About Editas Medicine
As a pioneering gene editing company, Editas Medicine is focused on translating the power and potential of the CRISPR/Cas12a and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing systems into a robust pipeline of in vivo medicines for people living with serious diseases around the world. Editas Medicine aims to discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialize transformative, durable, precision in vivo gene editing medicines for a broad class of diseases. Editas Medicine is the exclusive licensee of Broad Institute’s Cas12a patent estate and Broad Institute and Harvard University’s Cas9 patent estates for human medicines. For the latest information and scientific presentations, please visit www.editasmedicine.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘believe,’’ ‘‘continue,’’ ‘‘could,’’ ‘‘estimate,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ ‘‘intend,’’ ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘plan,’’ ‘‘potential,’’ ‘‘predict,’’ ‘‘project,’’ ‘‘target,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘would,’’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the outcome of the remand to the PTAB for further review and the Company’s intent to continue to license its intellectual property and the expected benefits received from such licensing. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: uncertainties inherent with litigation, including patent interference proceedings, and any resulting negative impact to the ability of the Company to license the specific patents in dispute; uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of clinical trials, and clinical development of the Company’s product candidates; availability and timing of results from clinical trials; whether interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial or the results of future trials; expectations for regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market products and availability of funding sufficient for the Company’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements. These and other risks are described in greater detail under the caption “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated by the Company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Media and Investor Contact: ir@editasmed.com
FAQ
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