Patent Landscape:
CRISPR Gene Editing

CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing in Eukaryotic Cells

Broad Institute / MIT / Harvard (Feng Zhang)

The most contested patent in modern biotechnology history. Covers CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in eukaryotic cells — the cells of animals, plants, and fungi that are the target of therapeutic applications. Feng Zhang's lab at the Broad Institute was granted this patent after a controversial interference proceeding against UC Berkeley's earlier filing.

CRISPR-Cas9 System and Methods for Genome Editing

University of California Berkeley (Jennifer Doudna)

Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier's fundamental CRISPR-Cas9 work — demonstrating that the system could edit DNA in a test tube — predated Zhang's eukaryotic application. UC Berkeley has fought a years-long PTAB interference proceeding claiming their work covered the eukaryotic application too. The dispute has cost both institutions tens of millions in legal fees.

Base Editing — Chemical Modification of DNA Without Double-Strand Breaks

Broad Institute / David Liu / Beam Therapeutics

David Liu's base editing patent covers a more precise variant of CRISPR that chemically converts one DNA base to another without cutting both strands of the double helix. This reduces the risk of unintended edits (off-target effects) that have been a concern with standard CRISPR-Cas9. Beam Therapeutics was founded to commercialize this technology.

Prime Editing — Precision Gene Writing Without Double-Strand Breaks

Broad Institute / David Liu

Prime editing is the 'find and replace' of gene editing — capable of making any of the 12 possible base-to-base conversions, small insertions, or small deletions at specified genomic locations. This patent portfolio, also commercialized through Prime Medicine, represents the third generation of CRISPR tools.

CRISPR-Based Therapeutics Delivery Using Lipid Nanoparticles

CRISPR Therapeutics / Intellia Therapeutics

Gene editing requires delivery of the CRISPR machinery into target cells — and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery is the leading method. This patent landscape covers the specific LNP formulations used to deliver CRISPR components in vivo, which proved critical when Intellia demonstrated the first in vivo human CRISPR editing in 2021.

Anti-CRISPR Proteins for Controlling Gene Editing Activity

University of California Berkeley

Anti-CRISPR proteins are naturally occurring inhibitors of CRISPR systems that can serve as an off-switch for gene editing. These proteins allow researchers to limit CRISPR activity after delivery — addressing safety concerns about off-target edits. The patent covers use of anti-CRISPRs as a control mechanism in therapeutic applications.

Broad Institute (MIT/Harvard)

Holds the dominant eukaryotic CRISPR patent position in the United States after winning the 2017 PTAB interference proceeding against UC Berkeley. Broad licenses its CRISPR IP to Editas Medicine (exclusive for human therapeutics) and many other companies. The Broad's strategy is to maintain control of the most commercially valuable CRISPR applications while broadly licensing for research use.

UC Berkeley / Jennifer Doudna

UC Berkeley licenses its CRISPR IP to CRISPR Therapeutics, Intellia Therapeutics, and Caribou Biosciences — the companies founded by Doudna and her collaborators. While the US eukaryotic patent dispute went against Berkeley, they won in Europe. The international IP landscape remains split, creating a complex global licensing situation for any company operating across jurisdictions.

Editas Medicine

Holds an exclusive license to Broad Institute's CRISPR patents for human therapeutic applications, making Editas the most IP-advantaged therapeutic CRISPR company in the US. This exclusivity, however, also created tension when Doudna-affiliated companies challenged its scope — and when multiple companies moved forward with therapies regardless.

CRISPR Therapeutics / Intellia Therapeutics

Licensed from UC Berkeley and operating under a different patent framework than Editas. CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval for the first CRISPR therapy (Casgevy) in December 2023 — making it the first approved gene editing treatment in history, and validating the commercial value of Berkeley's patent position.