Chapter 128 Four major gene editor technology lines

So although their names are listed as inventors of the patent, in fact, according to the original contract, the patent ownership and patent decision-making power belong to the Max Planck Institute.

In terms of profits and revenues, their actual profit share is not high, and is only a small part compared to the Max Planck Institute.

This is the current situation in the global scientific research field, and it is also a reality that makes global researchers helpless. It can only be said that researchers can make a small profit, but capital investors will never lose money.

Moreover, if the two leave the Max Planck Institute at the same time, the research and development of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology at the Max Planck Institute will undoubtedly come to a complete halt.

In this situation, even if they wanted to leave, whether the Max Planck Institute was willing to let them go was another matter.

“You two doctors don’t have to worry about the Max Planck Institute. Next, I will spend money to purchase the license or buy out the license for the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology patent.

This amount of funding will definitely attract the Max Planck Institute. As for whether the Max Planck Institute is willing to let the person go, it is simply a matter of whether there is enough money.

Anyway, we at Xingtu Genetics have money, so as long as you are interested, we can handle the rest!"

The reason why Lin Feng still wants to purchase the Max Planck Institute's technical patent license or even buy out the license for CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology is that

This is because in the past, Europe and the American Empire made completely different decisions regarding the owners of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology patents.

The European patent office has determined that the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology patent belongs to the Max Planck Institute.

The U.S. patent office has determined that the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology patent belongs to the Broad Institute of Harvard University.

In this case, in order to be on the safe side, Xingtu Gene Company can only spend two installments to purchase the technical patent licenses of both parties or buy out the licenses.

After this, whether in Europe or the United States, the genetic medical products launched by Starway Gene based on CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology are legal and compliant.

Of course, this legality and compliance is probably only feasible overseas, not in China, because according to previous history, in 2018.

After a professor named He Jian from Daxia used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to create the world's first gene-edited baby that is naturally resistant to AIDS.

Under tremendous public pressure, Daxia promulgated a new law within two years, clearly stating that gene-edited and cloned human embryos cannot be implanted into humans or animals.

Or if gene-edited or cloned animal embryos are implanted into human bodies, if the circumstances are serious, they shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention and shall also be fined.

If the circumstances are particularly serious, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years and shall also be fined.

Under such circumstances, even if Xingtu Gene Company develops genetic medical products, it is still unknown whether they are legal and compliant at that time.

Although the genetic medical products at that time certainly had nothing to do with embryos, they were directly implanted into the bodies of adults or babies.

Due to genetic mechanisms, their offspring are also very likely to not suffer from genetic diseases such as AIDS, thalassemia, phenylketonuria, hemophilia, etc.

However, the genes changed by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology are ultimately permanent changes. Once changed, they are changed forever.

This act of modifying genes is extremely dangerous, and no one knows what hidden dangers may arise in the future.

After all, it took billions of years for the Earth to develop from the initial single-celled organisms to the emergence of highly intelligent life forms like humans. It experienced countless ups and downs before a highly intelligent species like humans finally emerged.

Under such circumstances, human genes are currently the most stable. Modifying genes without authorization at this time will disrupt the success of billions of years of evolution, which will naturally involve great risks.

Therefore, it is not easy to bring genetic medical products to market. After all, no one knows what unknown risks there may be.

Even if this hidden danger has not erupted now, and may only erupt decades or hundreds of years later, no one would dare to easily approve it for listing.

Because even if there is no problem now, when the hidden danger breaks out in decades or hundreds of years, they will be cursed to death in history books. So even if there is a corresponding gene product, it is not easy for this product to be legally and compliantly listed in Daxia.

All we can say is that within the scope of Daxia, such genetic medical products are very likely not to be marketed unless their safety can be clearly proven.

"In that case, I agree."

Dr. Doudna took the lead in making the decision to agree.

And when she finished speaking, she turned her attention to her partner, Dr. Charpentier.

"In that case, I agree."

Dr. Charpentier spread his hands and agreed.

"Then I wish us a happy cooperation."

Lin Feng bowed and said with a smile.

At this point, he was already confident of winning over these two doctors, although the scientific research achievements of these two doctors seemed to be very great and attracted a lot of attention.

However, the current gene editing technology is only a cutting-edge scientific research technology, and it will take several years or even ten years to realize it.

Moreover, the current gene editing technology is not limited to CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology.

In fact, there are several other major lines at the same time, namely the homologous recombination technology development line, the zinc finger nuclease gene editing technology development line, the transcription activator-like effector nuclease technology development line...

In addition, if nothing unexpected happens, a new gene editing technology development line will appear next year, and in the next few years, there will be lead editing technology lines and dual-base editor technology development lines.

Among them, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology is just one of the four major gene editor technology lines.

The reason why CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology was so famous in the past is that it has the lowest research threshold.

Finally, the Broad Institute announced that all patents for their CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology will be permanently free in the research field, but will only be charged in the commercial field.

Under this free and open source model, it has successfully attracted countless genetic experts around the world to engage in the research and development of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology.

Subsequently, with the help of strength in numbers, the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology line among the four major lines developed at a very rapid speed, and in less than ten years, it had 1.5 related patents.

Under such circumstances, it is somewhat difficult for Starway Genetics to poach people from the Max Planck Institute, but in fact it is not that difficult, it is just a matter of money.

But money is not a problem for Lin Feng, so this is not a problem.

Of course, the reason why Lin Feng was willing to spend such a huge amount of money to recruit these two doctors was not only because he valued their talents, but also because he wanted to accumulate trust points for his future plan of turning falsehood into reality.

After all, they are the inventors of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. With their joining, Lin Feng claims that they will also participate in the research and development of gene enhancement drugs in the future and make great contributions.

This fake gene-enhancing drug is inherently trustworthy, and with such a large number of viewers, it may even become real!
Of course, Lin Feng actually prefers to recruit Zhang Feng, the super genius in the field of genetics at the Broad Institute.

But unfortunately, Zhang Feng is currently in a state of complacency.

Because Zhang Feng is currently working at the Broad Institute, he has both research funding and supporting research talent.

(End of this chapter)