Agreement will Enhance Discovery Services

Axxam SpA, (Italy), a discovery biology business, has been granted access to ERS Genomics' co-owned foundational CRISP-Cas9 patent portfolio, to support the Milan-based company’s development of highly-customised cell-based assays for relevant target classes and molecular pathways. The genome editing technology will be used to activate or inactivate genes of interest, to insert tags to measure protein degradation or translocation, and to insert genetically encoded sensors in specified genomic locations. The platform will applied across Axxam’s integrated discovery services, in fields such as pharmaceuticals, crop protection, animal health, and food and beverages.

“We are proud to add Axxam to our growing list of partners applying CRISPR-Cas9 technology to their service offerings,“ said Eric Rhodes, CEO of ERS Genomics. “Axxam's discovery services cover a wide array of fields and we look forward to seeing how its use of CRISPR-Cas9 impacts these areas."

“Innovation is our key driver and guides us in the constant aim to significantly improve the discovery efforts of our clients and partners," said Stefan Lohmer, CEO of Axxam. "Having access to one of the most important breakthrough gene editing technologies developed in recent years is a precious resource that will allow us, even more than before, to provide high-quality discovery services to the life science industries."

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed