Changeflow GovPing Pharma & Drug Safety Novel CRISPR Enzymes and Systems
Routine Notice Added Final

Novel CRISPR Enzymes and Systems

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Published March 25th, 2026
Detected April 2nd, 2026
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Summary

The European Patent Office published patent application EP4159856A1 for Novel CRISPR Enzymes and Systems, filed by the Broad Institute, MIT, Harvard, and co-applicants including the US Department of Health and Human Services. The patent covers CRISPR-Cas gene editing technology with inventors including Feng Zhang, Sergey Shmakov, and Konstantin Severinov. The application is classified under C12N 15/10 and C12N 9/22.

What changed

The EPO published international patent application EP4159856A1 for novel CRISPR enzymes and systems. The application names multiple research institutions as co-applicants, including the Broad Institute, MIT, Harvard, Rutgers, SKOLTECH, and the US Department of Health and Human Services. Key inventors include Feng Zhang, Konstantin Severinov, Eugene Koonin, and others. The patent covers CRISPR-Cas systems classified under IPC codes C12N 15/10, C12N 9/22, and C12N 15/63. The application designates all major European contracting states.

This is a routine patent publication notice with no immediate compliance obligations for third parties. Entities developing CRISPR-based gene editing technologies should review this publication to assess potential freedom-to-operate implications and identify potential licensing needs. Patent prosecution timelines vary; third parties should monitor the EPO register for subsequent examination results, opposition periods, and granted claims that would create enforceable exclusive rights in designated territories.

Source document (simplified)

← EPO Patent Bulletin

NOVEL CRISPR ENZYMES AND SYSTEMS

Publication EP4159856A1 Kind: A1 Mar 25, 2026

Applicants

The Broad Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, President and Fellows of Harvard College, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
(SKOLTECH), The United States of America, as Represented by
the Secretary, Department of Health and Human
Services, Shmakov, Sergey

Inventors

SEVERINOV, Konstantin, ZHANG, Feng, WOLF, Yuri I., SHMAKOV, Sergey, SEMENOVA, Ekaterina, MINAKHIN, Leonid, MAKAROVA, Kira S., KOONIN, Eugene, KONERMANN, Silvana, JOUNG, Julia, GOOTENBERG, Jonathan, ABUDAYYEH, Omar O., LANDER, Eric S.

IPC Classifications

C12N 15/10 20060101AFI20230224BHEP C12N 9/22 20060101ALI20230224BHEP C12N 15/63 20060101ALI20230224BHEP

Designated States

AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR

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Source

Analysis generated by AI. Source diff and links are from the original.

Classification

Agency
EPO
Published
March 25th, 2026
Instrument
Notice
Legal weight
Non-binding
Stage
Final
Change scope
Minor
Document ID
EP4159856A1

Who this affects

Applies to
Pharmaceutical companies Medical device makers
Industry sector
3254.1 Biotechnology 3254 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Activity scope
Patent Filing Gene Editing Technology Biotechnology Research
Geographic scope
European Union EU

Taxonomy

Primary area
Intellectual Property
Operational domain
Legal
Topics
Biotechnology Pharmaceuticals

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