BRAIN Biotech, a provider of specialist enzymes and biological solutions, announced today that the European Patent Office has granted a substance patent (EP4301852 B1) for its CRISPR-BMC nuclease, a novel genome-editing tool. The patent covers the first nuclease in the BMC® (BRAIN Metagenome Cas) family, which exhibits high activity in various organisms, including bacteria, yeasts, fungi, plants, and mammalian cells.
The CRISPR-BMC technology generates efficient double-strand breaks at defined genomic locations, enabling precise modifications to alter organism properties. This complements BRAIN Biotech's existing CRISPR-BEC nucleases, expanding their proprietary toolkit for strain optimization. The company uses this technology to optimize microbial production strains such as E. coli, Bacillus, Pichia, and Aspergillus for producing enzymes, proteins, and small molecules.
According to CEO Adriaan Moelker, the patent marks a crucial milestone for freedom to operate in research and customer projects, unlocking significant potential for commercial licensing. The company has already licensed the technology to companies in different fields and plans to expand licensing activities. Moelker emphasized that the technology helps make manufacturing processes more cost-effective.
Alexander Pelzer, Head of R&D, noted that CRISPR-BMC accelerates development of production organisms due to its speed and precision, leveraging the company's decades of experience in molecular biology and microbiology. The patent has been in effect since March 18, 2026, in European Unitary Patent countries, Great Britain, and Switzerland, with applications pending in the USA, Japan, and other key regions. BRAIN Biotech is also seeking patent protection for other nucleases in the BMC family.
BRAIN Biotech operates fermentation facilities in the UK and production sites in continental Europe and the US. The group generated €49.6 million in revenue in fiscal 2024/25 with around 280 employees. For more information, visit brain-biotech-group.com.
