Precision BioSciences Announces that the European Patent Office Issues Written Decision Confirming CELLECTIS SA's Loss of Patent Protection for Single-Chain Meganucleases in Europe

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Precision BioSciences, Inc., today announced that the Opposition Division of the European Patent Office (EPO) has issued a written decision confirming its November 18, 2009 revocation of the previously granted claims of Cellectis’ European Patent No. 1 485 475. As previously reported, after an oral hearing in an Opposition Proceeding initiated by Precision BioSciences, Cellectis’ previously granted claims to single-chain meganucleases, including those derived from I-CreI, as well as Cellectis’ claims to most classes of hybrid meganucleases, were revoked in their entirety. As a result of the interlocutory decision, Cellectis’ patent has been severely restricted such that it now includes only claims limited to hybrid meganucleases formed by the fusion of an N-terminal of the I-DmoI meganuclease to a domain derived from the I-CreI meganuclease.