MACAWILE, Remson Mark C.

Mark Intellectual Property

Strategy
MIB 2017 Prof. Dennis Fernandez

CRISPR
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats
I.
CRISPR is one of the loudest buzz in human exploration to gene reengineering. Even though
CRISPR sounds an advance technology, it cant be patented as it is. As per Broad Institute, CAS9
is a naturally occurring protein and part of naturally occurring bacterial process. The recent
patents done by different institutions such as Broad Institute and MIT are engineered
components and compositions specifically altered so the CAS9 can be useful to mammalian cells.

USPTO(United States Patent and Trademark Office) has already issued 55 patents as of March
2017 with claims to CRISPR and/or CAS9. On the other hand, European Patent office(EPO) already
issued 21 such patents. As observed in patent sites/office such USPTO, EPO and the others, I
observed that most of the patents clam coverage that were applied and awarded are observable
to fall on categories as shown below.

APPLICATION CELLS/ORGANISM MOLECULAR TOOLS

Genome Editing Human Cell-Subject Nuclease

Therapeutics-Diagnostics Other animal cell- organism Meganuclease

Bioproduction Plant cell- organism CRISPR-associated protein

Drug Screening Eukaryotic cell-organism CRISPR-Cas System

Modified Cell, Animal, Prokaryotic cell-organism Other Chimeric protein

Plant
Undefined cell-organism Vector-Delivery

CRISPR Sequence
Main patent applicant/ assignees are classified as institutional applicant such as MIT, Harvard
University, Broad Institute, UC Berkley, etc. of which MIT is the number one patent applicant for
CRISPR. Industrial applicant and assignee such as Du Pont and Dow chemicals are also providing
patent application. Recent licenses of awarded patents are currently used to move some industry
forward. Some example is DuPont granting license to Caribou Biosciences of a cross license that
enables the latter to develop and utilize CRISPR-Cas technology for product development in
multiple fields including human and animal therapeutics, diagnostics, industrial biotechnology,
research tools, and certain agriculture segments. The DuPont license to Caribou includes rights
to the Cas9-mediated genome editing intellectual property owned by Vilnius University and
exclusively licensed to DuPont. On the other hand, agreement between CRISPR Therapeutics and
Vertex that includes future development, regulatory and sales milestone of each of up to six
CRISPR- Cas9-based treatments that they agreed.

One of the patents that Broad Institute applied is the WO 2016094872 A1 Dead guides for
transcription factors which intently uses bioluminescence, chemiluminescence, and the likes to
guide gene editing process and helps make the process as easy as copy and paste.

II.

CRISPR and Bioluminescence

In year 2014-2016, a startup named Glowee launch a bioluminescence technology that can
change the way the world thinks and uses lighting technology. Till then, the lifespan of the gel
containing bioluminescent bacteria is just approximately 7 days. With what CRISPR technology
can offer, the bacterias lifespan can be lengthened and more applications can be used. CRISPR
patents that with claim in modified cell, animal or plant can be used as a reference in creating a
lighting system that uses enhanced bioluminescence technology. Business models such as system
that improves the photoactivity of the enhanced bioluminescent bacteria to be use as more
efficient light source and can possibly make the bacteria live longer.

Other strategic business model can be some patents that could be a market standard in handling
enhanced bioluminescent bacteria. Either the system handling, packaging, or storing of these
bacterias. This model can also include standard installation of bioluminescent bacteria as a home
fixture or the likes.

CRISPR modified bioluminescent bacteria can also be used and installed in different medical
equipment to help illuminate

CRISPR and the Human Skin

The search for the ultimate human apparel that can last longer and fit perfectly to its user is long
due. With the CRISPR Technology and other patents, patent in apparel specific application of
CRISPR can be done. It can either improve human skin or use genes from other animal to improve
human skin such as the abilities of some animals to wear and tear their skin layer at specific
periods.

Genetically breed apparels can also be applied to sensitive situation similar to the case of a new
born baby that can be prone to skin diseases. This can also help during medical operation and
the other field that can be improved by a sustained apparel application.

III.

Patent wars between Broad Institute and UC Berkley has erupted in the recent years on whos
the rightful patent holder of CRISPR-Cas9 optimization systems for delivery and function in cells.
This is an evidence that CRISPR and the following is a very valuable. Ventures and startup usually
valued at $100M. To date, one of the most promising in the field of gene editing is EDITAS a
NASDAQ listed start up that is backed by $43 Million dollar funding by a venture capitalist using
one of the granted patents to Broad Institute and Harvard University.

With this, it is arguable that having similar and better if more advantageous start ups like EDITAS
will have almost the same value. Royalties can also be imposed for the future development and
sales of CRISPR Tech final product just like the exclusive license provided by CRISPR Therapeutics
to Vertex. CRISPR Therapeutics IP valuation also included equity shares which valued at $30
Million . It also includes a $105 Million upfront for the said IP.

Although, CRISPR main market now is pharmaceutical and other healthcare platforms. CRISPR
has a bright future in personal health care and start-ups and ventures that can capture this niche
will be valued higher than stated on the previous paragraphs. I actually intend to use the above
example to cross-reference the current value of CRISPR IP in the market.

CONCLUSION

CRISPR and the bright future that awaits with its application is intuitively of high value and can
fast forward human race. But as we all know, advancement can mean different cultural
acceptance and innovation within cant be readily acceptable and implementable.

This exercise opened my imagination on any possible application of CRISPR in human

advancement and technological possibilities. The technology is very young and as an innovator
this mean a lot and worth studying for.