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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.