Quinn Emanuel Secures Critical Patent Ruling for The Broad Institute, Inc

Quinn Emanuel partners Ray Nimrod, Matthew Robson, and Zach Summers have secured a critical patent ruling for The Broad Institute, Inc. in its long-running patent dispute with the University of California, the University of Vienna, and Emmanuelle Charpentier over foundational CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing patents. On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the PTAB issued a 51-page decision on remand from the Federal Circuit, making extensive factual findings and once again confirming Broad’s entitlement to its foundational patents directed to the use of CRISPR-Cas9 in eukaryotic cells (including humans, other mammals, and plants).

CRISPR-Cas9 is a revolutionary technology that allows scientists to precisely edit the DNA of living cells. It is currently being tested in clinical trials to cure diseases caused by genetic mutations and holds enormous potential to treat cancers, cure heritable diseases, combat malaria, and improve food crops.

Quinn Emanuel has represented Broad throughout this dispute spanning over a decade, securing four rulings in its favor across two interference proceedings (Nos. 106,048 and 106,115) before the PTAB and the Federal Circuit. In connection with the 2022 priority victory, the Quinn Emanuel team was recognized by The American Lawyer as its Litigators of the Week, and the matter was covered widely in the press, including in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters, TIME, Science, Law360, and The American Lawyer.

Congratulations to the entire team.