GenAhead and ERS Genomics has announced a non-exclusive license agreement to provide GenAhead with access to ERS Genomic’s CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology patents. ERS Genomics holds rights to the foundational CRISPR/Cas9 patent portfolio from Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier, co-inventor of the breakthrough gene editing technology.

GenAhead had its start in April of this year and seeks to build a world class genome editing service business. Located in Fujisawa City, GenAhead uses its expertise in gene delivery combined with state of the art CRISPR/Cas9 technology to offer a highly efficient and accurate platform for genome editing.

“Through our agreement with ERS Genomics, we are pleased to be able to enhance the success of our customers' research programs by offering original state-of-the-art CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing services with significantly high knock-in (KI) efficiency,” commented Tsukasa Sugo, CEO of GenAhead. “GenAhead is dedicated to becoming a world leader in the application of genome editing for pharmaceutical drug discovery and development.”

“Following the issuance in May of our first Japanese patent with very broad and fundamental claims covering CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we have been excited to work with companies like GenAhead to help them build a foundation for commercial and scientific success,” commented Eric Rhodes, CEO of ERS Genomics. “ERS has a goal of making the CRISPR/Cas9 technology as broadly accessible as possible to all groups for commercial applications.”

Summit Pharmaceuticals International Corporation, the licensing partner of ERS Genomics in Japan, provided key support in putting this agreement in place.

GenAhead Bio is a new spinout biotechnology company focused on genome editing and nucleic acid delivery. Its headquarters are located in Shonan Health Innovation Park (iPark), in Fujisawa, Japan, which was launched by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited by transforming its Shonan Research Institute to enhance scientific innovation. Through a licensing deal with ERS Genomics, GenAhead Bio has launched CRISPR/Cas9 services to leading pharmaceutical companies and academics to produce cells with precise genetic modifications utilizing high KI efficiency, such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) conversions as a cellular disease model, in any particular mammalian cell line. Regarding induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, GenAhead Bio has partnered with ReproCELL Inc., a pioneering company in iPS cell technologies, to deliver GenAhead Bio’s products more expeditiously to the customers in the world. GenAhead Bio has another technology; delivery of nucleic acids to skeletal muscle and heart. It is also applicable to immune cells. In addition to fee-for service, GenAhead Bio envisions a future of research and development partnership with pharmaceutical companies in both fields.