The announcement comes immediately following the European Patent Office's February 10 rejection of opposition to claims on foundational CRISPR technology in Europe, a ruling that reaffirmed ERS Genomics' position in the field, according to the company.

Per the agreement, ERS Genomics will grant Aelian access to its CRISPR/Cas9 patent portfolio to support the commercial development of Aelian's functional genomic screening platform.

Aelian plans to combine CRISPR screening techniques with single-cell sequencing to identify and investigate disease targets and drug mechanisms of action. Its platform will function across various cell types to explore broader phenotypes. Under the agreement, Aelian will offer its technology worldwide to pharmaceutical and biotech companies seeking more effective therapies.

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.