Takara Bio licenses CRISPR genome editing technology from MilliporeSigma

Takara Bio USA, Inc. (TBUSA) and affiliates are excited to announce that we have entered into an agreement with MilliporeSigma to license their CRISPR integration and vector technologies. This license enhances our unique abilities as a stem cell services provider for even stronger support of customers worldwide who want to establish edited human pluripotent stem cell lines for drug discovery. “MilliporeSigma’s latest CRISPR licenses are the impetus for drug discovery that promises to accelerate research leading to the development of new therapies,” said Chris Ross, interim CEO of MilliporeSigma, in a press release on October 12, 2020. Additionally, access to MilliporeSigma’s CRISPR patent estate will enable us to develop new products, including vectors, to support our customers worldwide who are performing research on gene expression and function.

Takara Bio’s extensive suite of stem cell services, which includes sourcing, reprogramming, cell banking, gene editing, directed differentiation, and clinical-grade hES cell line establishment, addresses the most significant obstacles in advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and developing novel therapeutics. Creating disease models can be extremely challenging, as successful gene editing and concurrent establishment of clonal populations can be both inefficient and time-consuming. To help our customers create custom disease models, we offer gene editing services to knock out a target gene or knock in a disease-specific mutation. Incorporating MilliporeSigma’s technology into our gene editing workflow maximizes the success of our customers’ projects.

Also in the October 12^th press release, president of TBUSA Carol Lou said, “We are excited about the new opportunities that this will open up for Takara Bio and our customers. Takara Bio has a long history of enabling innovative research and this is another important step in supporting our customers.”

For more details on the Takara Bio/MilliporeSigma agreement, read the full press release.