Cellectis grants TransGenic a licence to its homologous recombination technology
Cellectis, the French rational genome engineering company, and US-based TransGenic, the tool providing company in the field of pharmaceutical and diagnostic development, have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement under a patent family (JP 3059481, JP 3298842 and JP 3298864) relating to a process for the specific replacement or insertion of a gene in a receiver genome by homologous recombination.
Cellectis, the French rational genome engineering company, and US-based TransGenic, the tool providing company in the field of pharmaceutical and diagnostic development, have entered into a non-exclusive license agreement under a patent family (JP 3059481, JP 3298842 and JP 3298864) relating to a process for the specific replacement or insertion of a gene in a receiver genome by homologous recombination.
This technology is used to precisely substitute, delete or add genetic sequences at a chosen location in a genome. In particular, it is often used to generate mouse models with altered genomes to study gene function and/or to mimic human diseases. The technology was invented at the Institut Pasteur, which then granted Cellectis worldwide exclusive rights to the umbrella patent family that covers the platform.
The license agreement grants TransGenic the right to use Cellectis' patented technologies for the generation and commercialisation of genetically modified mice.
"TransGenic cyclopaedically produces and analyses a great number of knockout mice by exchangeable gene-trap method and also produces knockout mice by gene targeting method," said Masahiro Koreishi, ceo of TransGenic. "We believe obtaining a widely applicable technological licence for the first time in Japan is beneficial for us to expand our future business. This licensing agreement enables researchers using our knockout mice to conduct various researches with a freedom to operate under these umbrella patents."