1.What potential lies in CRISPR?
CRISPR is without a doubt this decade’s biggest biotech invention. CRISPR is a technique that allows scientists to cut DNA, inserting or reordering bits of genetic code with remarkable precision and remarkable results.
CRISPR therapies have the potential to cure genetic diseases, establish new cancer therapies and could also be used to cure HIV, HPV and other virus diseases. Human clinical trials are already underway in China. In the U.S., they are scheduled for late 2017. The most recent achievements with CRISPR are tremendously promising
(see https://steemit.com/science/@meisi51/huntington-s-disease-successfully-treated-in-vitro-for-the-first-time-using-crispr-gene-editing
and https://steemit.com/science/@meisi51/hpv-about-to-be-cured-by-crispr-very-soon).
The potential of CRISPR is limitless, and so is the amount of money this technology brings.
2.How to invest in CRISPR?
The question everyone is asking is: Which is the best way for investing in CRISPR?
The potential of the CRISPR technology to cure such a vast variety of diseases has spurred the creation of a number of companies focusing on the development and licensing of the CRISPR technology.
To date, there are three leading companies involved in CRISPR gene editing which have the best starting position to dominate this multi-billion-dollar sector.
a)Editas Medicine Inc.
Editas Medicine Inc. is a pharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts which aims to develop therapies based on CRISPR gene editing technology. The company went public in February 2016.
Partnerships:
• Allergan plc
• Juno Therapeutics Inc.
Stock market information:
Market Capitalization 769 million USD
WKN: A2AC4K / ISIN: US28106W1036
b)Intellia Therapeutics Inc.
Intellia Therapeutics Inc. is a leading genome editing company, focused on the development of proprietary, potentially curative therapeutics using the CRISPR system.
Partnerships:
• Novartis AG
• Regeneron Inc.
• Caribou Biosciences Inc.
Stock market information:
Market Capitalization 557 million USD
WKN: A2AG6H / ISIN: US45826J1051
c)CRISPR Therapeutics AG
CRISPR Therapeutics is a leading gene-editing company focused on developing transformative gene-based medicines for serious diseases using its proprietary CRISPR gene-editing platform. CRISPR Therapeutics is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland with its Research & Development operations based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Partnerships:
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
• Bayer AG
• Anagenesis Biotechnologies
Stock market information:
Market Capitalization 705 million USD
WKN: A2AT0Z / ISIN: CH0334081137
3.Which company will make it?
At this point in time it is hard to predict which company will prevail and which won’t. To date, there are no medical CRISPR treatments or products on the market, yet.
Nevertheless, the technology is worth billions, even at this point in time. The key factor for the monetization of this technology is the ownership of the intellectual property rights (patents). Patents will entitle the patent holder to demand license fees for the use of the CRISPR technology.
To date, the intellectual property is heavily disputed throughout the legal landscape. However, patents have already been issued.
In February 2017 the US patent office ruled that the Broad Institute’s (Editas Medicine Inc.) and UC-Berkeley’s (CRISPR Therapeutics AG) patents do not interfere, providing a win for the Broad Institute in a long-fought patent battle. This effectively allows both Broad Institute and UC-Berkeley to have patents covering portions of the CRISPR intellectual property landscape, possibly requiring other companies to license patents from both institutions.
Beneficiary company: Editas Medicine Inc.
In April 2017 UC-Berkeley (CRISPR Therapeutics AG) has filed an appeal with the federal Court of Appeals. UC-Berkeley was joined in its appeal by the University of Vienna (Intellia Therapeutics Inc.). Previously, the US Patent office had ruled that UC-Berkeley’s and the Broad Institute’s (Editas Medicine Inc.) patents did not interfere, leaving them both able to pursue unique patents. In this appeal, UC-Berkeley hopes to establish that the teams of UC-Berkeley and University of Vienna were the first to engineer CRISPR/Cas9 in all cell types.
Beneficiary company: CRISPR Therapeutics AG and Intellia Therapeutics Inc.
In April 2017 the European patent office has announced its intention to award broad CRISPR patents to the UC-Berkeley (CRISPR Therapeutics AG) and the University of Vienna (Intellia Therapeutics Inc.). The awarded patents will cover the use of the CRISPR technology in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells/organisms, contrasting with the US patent office which denied UC-Berkeley the rights to eukaryotic cells.
Beneficiary company: CRISPR Therapeutics AG and Intellia Therapeutics Inc.
In June 2017 China’s State Intellectual Property Office has granted CRISPR Therapeutics AG a patent broadly covering CRISPR’s in-licensed gene editing technology. The claims are directed to CRISPR/Cas9 single-guide gene editing methods for modifying target DNA in both non-cellular and cellular settings, including in cells from vertebrate animals such as human or mammalian cells – as well as composition of matter and system claims for use in any setting, including claims for use in producing medicines for treating disease.
Beneficiary company: CRISPR Therapeutics AG
In June 2017 Intellia Therapeutics Inc. was granted a patent for CRISPR genome editing in China. The patent includes claims covering methods for editing DNA in non-cellular and cellular settings. The patent also includes CRISPR composition of matter and system claims for use in any setting.
Beneficiary company: Intellia Therapeutics Inc.
4.Why should I invest in CRISPR?
There are only a few technologies that have the potential to change the world as we know it. Recent developments in Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain technology have resulted in dramatic progression in computer sciences. CRISPR is the equivalent of a groundbreaking technology in medicine which will change the medical landscape as we know it from the ground up.
The next months will be critical for gene editing companies as Editas Medicne Inc., CRISPR Therapeutics AG and Intellia Therapeutics Inc. race to clinical trials making their patents and accompanying license rights worth billions.
Investments in all of these companies have the potential to pay off big time - in health and wealth.
What do you think? Which company will make it? Happy to discuss.
For further information:
http://www.editasmedicine.com/
http://www.crisprupdate.com/category/crispr-patents/
https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v546/n7656/full/546030a.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/brief-intellia-therapeutics-announces-pa-idUSFWN1JG07U