-- CRISPR-chrom technology improves access to genome for more efficient 
   editing 

-- Only U.S. patent holder in the CRISPR chromatin space 

-- Company driving innovation in CRISPR gene-editing technologies 

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced that the 
United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted the company's patent for 
CRISPR-chrom technology. With this allowance, Merck is the only provider with a 
patent covering the fusion of chromatin modulating peptides to CRISPR proteins, 
helping to clear chromatin out of the way, increasing access to the genome. 

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1141070/Merck.jpg 

"This award marks our second U.S. CRISPR patent and our 23rd CRISPR-related 
patent worldwide, and as a leading innovator of CRISPR technology, we will 
continue to drive innovation and collaborate with scientists around the world 
to ensure that they have the most advanced gene-editing options," said Udit 
Batra, member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science.   

Because genomic DNA in mammalian cells is wrapped tightly in protein complexes 
called chromatin, the genomic DNA is often inaccessible to CRISPR. Merck's 
CRISPR-chrom technology works by fusing chromatin modulating peptides to a 
CRISPR protein, Cas9 (i.e., CRISPR's DNA scissors), allowing for more efficient 
gene editing. This work was initially published in the February 2018 issue of 
The CRISPR Journal ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2768284-2&h=4290016811&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liebertpub.com%2Fdoi%2Ffull%2F10.1089%2Fcrispr.2018.0036%3Furl_ver%3DZ39.88-2003%26rfr_id%3Dori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org%26rfr_dat%3Dcr_pub%253dpubmed&a=published+in+the+February+2018+issue+of+The+CRISPR+Journal 
) and was one of the journal's top five downloaded articles of the year. 

The Life Science business of Merck, a leader in genome editing, conducts 
research and development to drive improvements in gene-editing technologies. 

The company's CRISPR patent portfolio includes granted patents for 
CRISPR-related technologies covering foundational and alternative 
genome-editing methods. Patents for the company's CRISPR integration technology 
have been granted in Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Israel, Singapore and 
South Korea. Patents granted in Europe and pending elsewhere cover plasmid or 
viral vectors encoding CRISPR systems, which are necessary to perform genome 
modification in eukaryotic cells. Other European patents and pending 
applications are for protein-RNA nickase compositions.  

Merck received its first U.S. patent in February 2019 for its proxy-CRISPR 
technology, which makes CRISPR more efficient, flexible and specific. The 
company has successfully out-licensed its CRISPR patent portfolio and continues 
to license its entire CRISPR patent portfolio for all fields of use. Merck is 
proactively and aggressively pursuing CRISPR patent out-licensing partners for 
therapeutics, agriculture and research and welcome such collaboration 
opportunities. 

CRISPR technology is a core competency for Merck, which has 16 years' 
experience with genome editing, spanning from discovery to manufacturing. The 
company develops technologies in a range of genome-editing applications, 
including gene knockout, gene integration and CRISPR libraries for genetic 
screens, among others. 

Merck recognizes that genome editing has resulted in major advancements in 
biological research and medicine. At the same time, the growing potential of 
genome-editing technologies has opened scientific, legal and societal concerns. 
The company supports research with genome editing under careful consideration 
of ethical and legal standards. Merck has established an independent, external 
Bioethics Advisory Panel ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2768284-2&h=2989328645&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.merckgroup.com%2Fen%2Fcr-report%2F2018%2Fbusiness-ethics%2Fbioethics.html&a=Bioethics+Advisory+Panel 
) to provide guidance for research in which its businesses are involved, 
including research on or using genome editing, and has developed, defined and 
transparently published a clear operational position ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2768284-2&h=253148026&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.merckgroup.com%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Fweb%2Fcorporate%2Fnon-images%2Fcompany%2Fresponsibility%2Fen%2Fregulations-and-guidelines%2Fgenome-editing-principle-EN.pdf&a=position 
) taking into account scientific and societal issues to inform promising 
therapeutic approaches for use in research and applications. 

All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become 
available on the Merck Website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to 
register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.  

About Merck 
Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, 
life science and performance materials. Around 57,000 employees work to make a 
positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more 
joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies 
and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling 
the intelligence of devices -- the company is everywhere. In 2019, Merck 
generated sales of EUR16.2 billion in 66 countries. 

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to 
Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived 
since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of 
the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name 
and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the 
business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma 
in life science and EMD Performance Materials. 

SOURCE:  Merck 

CONTACT: Gangolf.schrimpf@merckgroup.com, Phone: 01 6151 72-5577