Exclusive partnership announced to facilitate enzymatically synthesized DNA

An exclusive licensing agreement has been announced by DNA Script and Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry (DCC), which will see the companies expand the use of a novel DNA building block to synthesize high purity synthetic DNA and other nucleic acids.

The DNA building block technology, commercialised by DCC, was initially developed by Firebird Biomolecular Sciences with support from the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health and allows for the control of the enzymatic process.

Under the terms of the agreement, commercialisation of the new DCC technologies are included, which will enable DNA Script to advance its technology towards the production of long, high-quality DNA constructs.

“We see the use of the DNA building blocks developed by DCC as a key element for enzymatic synthesis of nucleic acids. This exclusive license will help DNA Script strengthen its unique IP portfolio in the field,” said Thomas Ybert, PhD, DNA Script's co-founder and CEO. “By applying high-quality oligo synthesis bioprocesses, we are improving de novo nucleic acid synthesis performance compared to current technologies while significantly reducing the need for harsh chemicals used in traditional DNA synthesis processes.

“This collaboration holds tremendous promise, as it could lead to dramatically increasing our ability to synthesize long DNA fragments, towards entire genes and, eventually, chromosomes.”

“Modified DNA building blocks in this technology transfer were initially created for enzyme-based DNA sequencing, mutation detection, and DNA tagging and processing,” added Prof. Steven Benner, CEO of DCC and inventor of the licensed technology. “However, the modifications can be compatible with enzyme-based DNA synthesis, exactly the business that DNA Script leads.”