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PatentBrief

Innovation Timeline

Gene Editing

CRISPR-Cas9, zinc finger nucleases, base editing — the IP behind precision medicine's most powerful tools.

Landmark patents

41

Total citations

19,920

Span

1983 – 2025

Milestones

9

1980s

Milestone
US 4816567· 1983· Genentech Inc

Making Hybrid Antibodies from Different Animals

This patent describes how to create new, engineered antibodies by combining parts of antibodies from two different animal species, then growing them in a lab.

8,214 citations

Milestone
US 4703008· 1984· Kirin Amgen Inc

How to Make Human Erythropoietin (EPO) Using Engineered DNA

This patent describes the specific DNA sequences and methods to engineer cells to produce erythropoietin (EPO), a protein vital for red blood cell production, outside the human body.

346 citations

Milestone
US 4683202· 1985· Cetus CorpPublic domain

How to Make Many Copies of a Specific DNA Segment

This patent describes the fundamental three-step process for making millions of copies of a specific piece of DNA using short starter molecules and an enzyme, a technique known as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

7,558 citations

Milestone
US 4965188· 1987· Cetus Corp

How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat

This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.

2,132 citations

US 5110802· 1987· City of Hope

Using Synthetic DNA Fragments to Block HIV Replication

A 1987 patent describing a specific synthetic DNA molecule designed to stop the HIV virus from replicating by blocking a key part of its genetic code.

26 citations

2010s

Milestone
US 8697359· 2013· Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System

This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.

1,268 citations

Milestone
US 9328156· 2013· University of Pennsylvania Penn

How Genetically Modified T-Cells Attack Cancer

This patent describes how human T cells are genetically engineered to express a special receptor (CAR) that specifically targets and kills cancer cells, particularly those with the CD19 marker, offering a new way to treat cancer.

65 citations

US 9481728· 2015· University of Pennsylvania Penn

How Genetically Modified T-Cells Fight CD19 Cancers

This patent describes how to create and use genetically modified human T cells that target and kill cancer cells expressing the CD19 protein, offering a new way to treat blood cancers.

37 citations

Milestone
US 20160166668· 2016· Curevac AG

How an mRNA Vaccine Targets Prostate Cancer with Six Antigens

This patent describes an mRNA vaccine designed to treat prostate cancer by delivering genetic instructions for a specific combination of six prostate-related proteins, teaching the body to fight the cancer.

84 citations

Milestone
US 20160168227· 2016· Curevac AG

How an mRNA Vaccine for Lung Cancer Teaches the Immune System to Fight

This patent describes a specific mRNA vaccine designed to treat lung cancer by instructing the body's cells to produce six distinct tumor proteins, thereby training the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.

80 citations

Milestone
US 10113167· 2016· Universitaet Wien

How CRISPR-Cas9 Uses RNA to Edit DNA

This patent describes the fundamental mechanism of using a two-part RNA system to guide the Cas9 protein to specific locations in DNA for precise editing.

49 citations

US 20180305704· 2017· Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How to Use Many CRISPR Guides to Study Many Genes at Once

This patent describes a method to use a large collection of CRISPR-Cas9 guide RNAs to target and modify many different genes or DNA regions across a population of eukaryotic cells, enabling high-throughput genetic screening.

44 citations

US 12163952· 2018· Juno Therapeutics

Predicting and Treating Dangerous Side Effects in CAR T-Cell Therapy

This patent describes methods to identify patients at high risk for severe side effects, like cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity, during CAR T-cell cancer therapy and how to treat them proactively.

US 12350368· 2018· Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Delivering Large Gene Editing Tools into Cells with Hybrid Virus-Lipid Packages

This patent describes a sophisticated delivery system that combines parts of a virus with a fat bubble (liposome) to efficiently transport large molecules, like CRISPR gene-editing components, into specific cells.

US 10314897· 2018· Immatics Biotechnologies

How a Specific Protein Fragment Can Train Immune Cells to Fight Cancer

This patent describes methods to fight various cancers by using a specific protein fragment (peptide LYHDIFSRL) to train a patient's immune cells to recognize and attack tumor cells.

4 citations

US 20230187025· 2018· Genewiz Suzhou

How to Design High-Quality Gene Editing Tools for a Whole Genome

This patent describes a computer system and method for creating a comprehensive library of gene-editing guides (sgRNAs) by carefully designing and filtering them to be accurate and avoid unintended genetic changes.

1 citation

US 11739322· 2019· Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of CAS

CRISPR Gene Editing That Turns Itself Off

This patent describes a CRISPR gene editing system that turns itself off after making a specific genetic change, using a second guide RNA to inactivate the editing enzyme.

US 11661612· 2019· Sangamo Therapeutics

How Engineered TALE Proteins Can Edit Genes

This patent describes engineered DNA-binding proteins called TALEs, which are shortened and modified to precisely target and edit specific DNA sequences in cells, potentially for gene therapy.

1 citation

US 12048738· 2019· Curevac SE

Using mRNA to Teach the Body to Fight Prostate Cancer

This patent describes an active composition, often a vaccine, that uses messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct a mammal's cells to produce specific prostate cancer proteins, thereby training the immune system to attack prostate cancer cells.

2020s

US 12736528· 2020

Diagnosing Brain Conditions by Watching Lab-Grown Neurons Light Up

This patent describes a method to diagnose brain disorders by taking a patient's cell, turning it into a neuron, making it glow when active, and comparing its light patterns to a genetically matched healthy cell.

US 12735721· 2020

Engineered AAV Vectors for Targeted Gene Delivery to Specific Body Parts

This patent describes specially designed adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors that can deliver new genetic material to specific tissues in the body, such as the brain, heart, or retina, to treat diseases.

US 12735703· 2020

How Oligonucleotides Target C9orf72 for Brain Diseases

This patent describes using special genetic molecules called oligonucleotides to treat brain diseases like ALS and FTD by targeting a specific gene called C9orf72.

US 12600775· 2020· Kite Pharma

Treating a Specific Lymphoma with Modified T Cells

This patent describes a method to treat a difficult-to-treat type of lymphoma by taking a patient's own immune cells, modifying them to recognize and attack cancer, and then giving them back to the patient.

US 20210205465· 2021· Apo T BV

Targeting Bad Cells with Toxic Antibodies for Cancer and Autoimmune Disease

This patent describes special antibodies equipped with a toxic payload that specifically seek out and bind to unique markers on diseased cells, like cancer or autoimmune cells, to destroy them.

US 12419940· 2021· Massachusetts Institute of Technology

New Nanoparticles for Delivering Large RNA Medicines to Cells

This patent describes a specific type of modified dendrimer nanoparticle designed to efficiently deliver large RNA molecules, like replicating RNA, into cells for therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic purposes, notably without using cholesterol.

US 12416013· 2021· Tianjin Genovo Biotechnology Co

Boosting Plant Gene Editing and Regeneration with Special Genes

This patent describes a method to make plant genetic engineering more efficient by adding specific genes that encourage plant cells to divide and grow, making it easier to create new plants with desired traits.

1 citation

US 12252707· 2021· Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How to Make Animals That Can Turn On CRISPR Gene Editing

This patent describes creating genetically modified non-human animals, like mice, where a key CRISPR gene-editing protein (Cas9) can be turned on only in specific cells or at specific times using a special genetic switch.

US 12734246· 2021

Antibodies that Deliver Drugs to Cells Using Transferrin Receptors

This patent describes special antibodies that bind to transferrin receptors on cells to deliver molecular payloads, such as genetic material, for therapeutic purposes.

US 20220096616· 2021· Curevac AG

Using Two Specific RNAs to Teach the Body to Fight Lung Cancer

This patent describes an active composition containing two specific messenger RNAs, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A3, designed to stimulate an immune response in a mammal to treat lung cancer, especially non-small cell lung cancers.

7 citations

US 12735503· 2022

Using Antibodies and CAR-T Cells to Fight MUC1-C Expressing Cancers

This patent describes specific antibodies and engineered immune cells (CAR-T) designed to target and treat cancers that produce a particular protein called MUC1-C.

US 12734215· 2022

How Modified IL2 Proteins Can Treat Human Diseases

This patent describes new versions of the human immune protein Interleukin-2 (IL2), called muteins, designed to specifically target certain immune responses for treating various human diseases.

US 12735746· 2022

How to Amplify Many DNA Targets at Once, Cleanly

This patent describes methods for simultaneously making many copies of different DNA sections in a single test tube, along with ways to choose the right starting pieces (primers) to avoid unwanted byproducts.

US 12735738· 2022

How Circular Probes Find Specific DNA in Cells

This patent describes a method using special circular DNA probes and enzymes to precisely detect specific genetic sequences within a cell or tissue sample, then amplifies the detected sequences for clear viewing.

US 12735723· 2022

Treating Muscular Dystrophy with a Self-Complementary AAV Gene Therapy

This patent describes a method to treat muscular dystrophy by delivering a specific gene using a specially designed, self-complementary adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector.

US 20240082373· 2023· Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How Special Molecules Boost Cancer-Fighting CAR-T Cells

This patent describes special molecules made of a CAR-T cell activator attached to a fat-like part, designed to make cancer-fighting CAR-T cells grow and work better inside a patient.

2 citations

US 20230383290· 2023· Leland Stanford Junior University

How to Precisely Edit Genes Using Retron-Guide RNA Cassettes

This patent describes a method for highly efficient and precise genome editing using a retron-guide RNA cassette to deliver large pieces of donor DNA into a cell's genetic material.

US 12168044· 2023· Immatics Biotechnologies

Treating Liver Cancer with Specially Trained Immune Cells

This patent describes a method for treating hepatocellular cancer by giving patients specially activated immune cells that are trained to recognize and kill cancer cells displaying a specific protein fragment.

US 20240165159· 2023· Purdue Research Foundation

Targeting Cancer with CAR T Cells Using a Chemical Tag

This patent describes a method to treat cancer by giving a patient special immune cells (CAR T cells) that recognize a chemical tag, which is attached to a small drug molecule, along with a separate folate compound.

1 citation

US 12735748· 2024

How to Copy Many DNA Sections at the Same Time

This patent describes methods for simultaneously copying multiple specific DNA or RNA segments in a single test tube, along with strategies for selecting the short DNA starter pieces (primers) to ensure accurate and efficient amplification.

US 20250171803· 2024· Purdue Research Foundation

Targeting Cancer with CAR T Cells Using Small Molecule 'Flags'

This patent describes a method to treat cancer by giving a patient special immune cells (CAR T cells) that are trained to find a specific 'flag' molecule, and then also giving them a drug molecule attached to that same 'flag' in varying amounts or forms.

US 12735713· 2025

Tracking Plant Microbes with Their Natural DNA Barcodes

This patent describes a method to track how microbes colonize plant roots by using and reconfiguring their naturally occurring DNA sequences as unique tags.

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