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Merck receives Patents from Korea and Israel

20 February 2018 | News

Korea and Israel grants patent to Merck for the CRISPR technology used in a genomic-integration method for eukaryotic cells

Merck, a leading science and technology company and leader in genome editing, announced that the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Israel Patent Office have each issued notices granting Merck's patent applications for the company's CRISPR technology used in a genomic-integration method for eukaryotic cells. 

"These decisions mark the fifth and sixth patent allowances for our unique CRISPR technology to find new treatments for some of the toughest medical conditions faced today, including cancer, hereditary and rare diseases," said Udit Batra, member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. 

Merck is licensing these patents for applications including basic science research, agricultural biotech and therapeutic use. 

Merck recognizes the potential benefits of conducting properly defined research with genome editing because of the breakthrough therapeutic potential.

Therefore, Merck supports research with genome editing under careful consideration of ethical and legal standards.

Merck has established a Bioethics Advisory Panel to provide guidance for research in which its businesses are involved, including research on or using genome editing. 

These forthcoming, fundamental patents in South Korea and Israel cover chromosomal integration, or cutting of the chromosomal sequence of eukaryotic cells (such as mammalian and plant cells) and insertion of an external or donor DNA sequence into those cells using CRISPR.

Scientists can replace a disease-associated mutation with a beneficial or functional sequence, a method important for creating disease models and gene therapy.

Additionally, the method can be used to insert transgenes that label endogenous proteins for visual tracking within cells. 

CRISPR genome-editing technology, which allows the precise modification of chromosomes in living cells, is advancing treatment options for a variety of medical conditions.

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