NC State Spinout Locus Biosciences Inks Historic Licensing Deal

NC State provides innovators with a range of programs and services to develop, protect, market and commercialize inventions developed at the university through the licensing of intellectual property or the launch of new companies based on university innovations.

An example of NC State’s research impact can be seen in the recent news about 2015 NC State spinout Locus Biosciences, Inc.

Earlier this month, Locus entered into an exclusive collaboration and licensing agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The agreement, facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, includes an initial investment of $20 million and is potentially worth up to $818 million. The partnership is focused on the development and manufacturing of CRISPR-Cas3-enhanced bacteriophage products targeting two key bacterial pathogens of the respiratory tract and other organ systems. After the deal, Locus will retain all rights to the technology and its application to other pathogens.