Precision BioSciences, Inc., a leader in the field of genome engineering, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has issued Notices of Allowance for U.S. Patent Applications 13/246,270 and 13/246,346 ("the '270 and '346 Applications"). The allowed claims relate to an assortment of genome engineering methods, including the use of defined engineered meganucleases in isolated human cells. These methods constitute an important aspect of Precision's genome engineering technology known as the Directed Nuclease Editor or DNE.
The allowance of the claims of the '270 and '346 Applications follow Precision's recently allowed claims from U.S. Patent Applications 13/246,380, 13/245,607, and 13/245,596 and further augments Precision's ability to protect its proprietary DNE technology, features of which are already covered under claims of Precision's U.S. Patent No. 8,021,867 ("the '867 Patent"). Precision announced in October 2011 that it has asserted the '867 Patent against Cellectis SA in a lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
"We are pleased that the PTO has now allowed these claims, which cover methods utilized for cleaving target DNA sites in isolated human cells," stated Mike Nicholson, Precision BioSciences' Director of Cell Biology. "Issuance of these allowed patent applications, along with our other recently allowed applications will provide Precision with what we believe is the strongest U.S. patent estate related to engineered meganucleases."
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