DuPont Pioneer and CasZyme collaborating to advance new CRISPR-Cas gene-editing tools

Date:10-13-2017

DuPont Pioneer and recently formed CasZyme, a startup company based in Vilnius, Lithuania, announced today that they have entered into a multiyear collaboration to identify and characterize novel CRISPR-Cas nucleases. The goal of the collaboration is to provide CRISPR researchers with additional tools for gene editing across all applications.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pioneer will provide access to its extensive CRISPR-Cas library and CasZyme will apply its biochemical assays and expertise to characterize the Cas nucleases. Pioneer is part of the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont.™

“This is an important step forward in our efforts to discover, develop and make available unique tools for gene editing to the global scientific community,” said Neal Gutterson, vice president, Research & Development for DuPont Pioneer. “Our relationship with CasZyme is consistent with our history of collaboration to advance science-based solutions for farmers and consumers around the world.”

Monika Kavaliauske, CasZyme’s CEO added: “We believe our technologies and skills applied to characterize Cas nucleases will create value for researchers and companies practicing gene-editing worldwide. We are extremely pleased and proud to collaborate with DuPont Pioneer; this collaboration will certainly improve our potential for success.”

With additional Cas nucleases identified and characterized from throughout the microbial world, researchers could have additional tools with which to employ the CRISPR-Cas system, thereby furthering innovation.

Pioneer is applying CRISPR-Cas as an advanced plant breeding tool to develop seed products for greater environmental resiliency, productivity and sustainability. It has defined CRISPR-Cas guiding principles, which include helping enable others wanting to develop agricultural products using CRISPR-Cas by providing access to its intellectual property (IP), technology capabilities, infrastructure and scientific expertise.

Specific financial terms and additional details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Learn more about CRISPR-Cas at http://crisprcas.pioneer.com.

About CasZyme
CasZyme is a startup company, based in Vilnius, Lithuania. Company aims to deliver inventions by novel and top quality research activities in the field of CRISPR based Molecular Tools. CasZyme is developing and characterizing new tools in support of CRISPR-Cas gene editing technology research. One of the founders of CasZyme is Prof. Virginius Siksnys, the pioneer of CRISPR-Cas gene editing research and first to demonstrate that CRISPR-Cas9 can be used to operate precise double strand breaks in DNA, thereby enabling a new era of gene editing. More information can be found at www.caszyme.com.