NAPIGEN, Inc. Secures U.S. Patent, Awarded USDA SBIR Grant
Summary
These cellular organelles previously had been considered beyond the reach of CRISPR genome editing because of the challenges associated with delivering RNA or DNA into them.The issued patent demonstrates our commitment to obtaining broad patent protection over our unparalleled technologies in mitochondrial and chloroplast genome engineering, said Dr. Emil Orozco, Jr., Vice President, Intellectual Property of NAPIGEN, Inc. Our innovations will help enable greener agriculture with higher yields and effective pest management that lead to less impact on the climate. This technology will also help unlock novel approaches for the potential cure of heritable mitochondrial diseases and the production of key industrial biomolecules.In addition, NAPIGEN, Inc. announced that the United States Department of Agriculture awarded the company a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant. The current grant project focuses on developing an herbicide-resistant trait that is incapable of pollen transmission to weedy plants by utilizing the companys organelle genome engineering technology.The success of the project will especially help American rice farmers establish longer-lasting and healthier management of detrimental weedy rice and contribute to improved yields, said Dr. Byung-Chun Yoo, Director, Business Development. Along with the companys ongoing development of efficient hybrid crop systems, it will help increase the competitiveness of U.S. agriculture and contribute to food security in the United States.NAPIGEN, Inc. raised $8 million in its Seed round two years ago. A group of accomplished scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors founded the company including Dr. Hajime Sakai, Dr. Ganesh Kishore, Dr. Roger Wyse, and Dr. Jay Keasling.