Merck Grants Evotec SE License to Use Its Foundational CRISPR Gene-Editing Technology

Darmstadt, Germany, November 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading technology companyMerck & Co.(Merck) announced today that the company has signed a licensing agreementEvotec SELicensing Agreement for the Use of Its Core CRISPR Intellectual Property. Evotec, an international biotechnology company headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, will utilize Merck’s CRISPR genome-editing technology to create edited cell lines for its commercial and internal research purposes.

Udit Batra, Executive Board Member of Merck KGaA and CEO of the Life Science business, stated: “This CRISPR patent licensing represents a significant catalyst for drug testing and discovery, with the potential to accelerate the research and development of new therapies. For 15 years, Merck has been at the forefront of gene-editing innovation, continuously collaborating with industry and academia to leverage our patented CRISPR technology in addressing complex challenges responsibly and in an ethically compliant manner.”

Evotec plans to utilize Merck’s CRISPR intellectual property portfolio to develop precision-engineered assays for determining the biological activity and toxicity of potential drug candidates during the drug development cycle.

Craig Johnstone, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, stated: “Evotec is pleased to license Merck’s groundbreaking CRISPR technology, further strengthening our stable partnership with Merck. Our vision and passion for innovation include leveraging CRISPR technology to test and enhance the efficacy of new drugs we are developing, ultimately benefiting patients worldwide who lack adequate access to healthcare.”

The newly reached licensing agreement strengthens the collaboration between Merck and Evotec. In November 2016, the two companies signed a series of agreements under which Evotec would provide screening services utilizing Merck’s genetic reagent libraries, including CRISPR and shRNA libraries. The combination of Merck’s genome editing libraries with Evotec’s expertise in screening offers a faster pathway for exploring and identifying new drug targets.

Merck holds 20 CRISPR-related method and composition patents worldwide, including foundational CRISPR-Cas9 technology for gene integration in mammalian cells.

Merck supports research in genome editing conducted in accordance with ethical and legal standards. The company has established an independent externalBioethics Advisory Panel, providing guidance for research involved in its business, including research related to or utilizing genome editing. Merck has also established clear business operationsPosition, by considering scientific and social factors, to help develop promising therapeutic regimens for research and application.

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