Scientist may lose gene-editing patent

Technique has lost commercial value after researcher stopped application

Han Chunyu, a Chinese researcher who gained the spotlight for a next-generation approach to gene-editing that research groups across the world later said could not be repeated, could lose his patent for the process.

The State Intellectual Property Office notified Han and co-applicant Shen Xiao from Zhejiang University on Jan 9 that the application for his NgAgo gene-editing approach was deemed to have been withdrawn because they did not furnish documents that the office requested in July.