Innovate Genome
Edit Your Life
About Us
Leading company in gene editing technology
ToolGen was founded by a renowned scientist in gene editing, Dr. Jin-Soo Kim in 1999. ToolGen is the only one company that successfully developed ZFN, TALEN and CRISPR-Cas9. ToolGen has secured patents for the CRISPR-Cas9 foundational technology in many countries including Korea, the United States, Europe, Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, India, and Hong Kong.
ToolGen History
1999
ToolGen Founded
ToolGen was founded in 1999 by Dr. Jin-Soo Kim.
2000
Development of ZFN
(Zinc Finger Nuclease)
Title of Invention: Zinc Finger Domains and Methods of Identifying Same Filing Date: 2001-02-17 Registration number: 10-0436869 Registered date: 2004-06-10
2011
Development of TALEN
(Transcription Activator Like
Effector Nuclease)
Title of Invention: Genome Engineering Via Designed TAL Effector Nucleases Filing Date: 2011-01-03 Registration number: 10-1556359 Registered date: 2015-09-22
2012
Development of CRISPR-Cas9
The CRISPR-Cas system is an immune system originally found in bacteria, which remembers and cuts the DNA of invading viruses. The CRISPR-Cas system consists of guide RNA and Cas proteins. The guide RNA binds complementarily to the viral DNA, also known as the target DNA, while the Cas proteins perform the role of cutting the DNA bound by the guide RNA. Therefore, by designing the guide RNA's nucleotide sequence in the CRISPR-Cas system to be complementary to the desired DNA sequence, the CRISPR_Cas system can be used as a gene editor to cut the desired DNA sequence.
Founder
Dr. Jin Soo Kim
Since the establishment of ToolGen Co., Ltd. in 1999, Dr. Kim Jin-Soo has been dedicated to the development of essential tools for genome editing. His groundbreaking work led to the creation of CRISPR-Cas9, which he developed after earlier editing technologies like Zinc-Finger Nucleases, Zinc-Finger Deaminases, TALENs, and TALEDs. He filed patents for these innovations faster than anyone else in the world. Dr. Jin-Soo Kim's tools are now widely used in thousands of labs across the globe for genome editing of nuclear and organellar DNA in human stem cells, model organisms, livestock, and plants. Currently, Dr. Kim Jin-Soo is serving as a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore.
History
1999
Jan
Established Toolgen Co., Ltd. (Head office location: 267-30 Sadang 4-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul)
2002
Jun
Selected as one of Asia's 10 most notable life science companies/Pacific Forum
2003
Mar
ZFP (Zinc Finger Proteins) thesis published/Nature Biotechnology
2004
Jun
Dr. Kim Jin-Su, research institute director, has been awarded the Scientist of the Month award/The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea
2005
Mar
Selected as one of the Top 8 Global Research Achievements/The Ministry of Science and ICT
2009
May
Genetic scissors technology (AIDS treatment) thesis published/Genome Research
2010
Jan
Genetic scissors technology (genome deletion) thesis published/Genome Research
2011
Jan
Genetic scissors mass production technology thesis published/Nature Methods
2012
Jan
Provisional application for a patent related to CRISPR genetic scissors source technology/US Intellectual Property Office
2013
Mar
Human Genome TALEN Library paper published/Nature Biotechnology License-out related to CRISPR genetic scissors technology/Life Technologies (USA)
Jul
License-out/KeyGene related to CRISPR genetic scissors technology (Netherlands)
2014
Jun
Listed on KONEX market/Korea Exchange
Nov
License-out/Thermo Fisher Scientific (USA) related to CRISPR genetic scissors technology
2016
Aug
Approval of Australian patent registration related to CRISPR genetic scissors source technology/Australian Intellectual Property Office
2017
Aug
License-out for CRISPR genetic scissors technology/Monsanto (Currently known as Bayer)
Nov
US patent registration related to gene scissors reporter technology / US Patent Office
2018
Jun
Publication research results on improved CAR-T therapy (Styx-T) with enhanced functionality/Cancer Research.
Jul
Registered a European patent related to CRISPR genetic scissors source technology/European Intellectual Property Office
Aug
Registered a patent in Singapore related to CRISPR genetic scissors source technology / Singapore Intellectual Property Office
Nov
Registered a patent in Japan related to CRISPR genetic scissors source technology/Japan Patent Office.
2019
Apr
Publication research results on Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT 1A) using gene correction technology/Nucleic Acids Research
Nov
Campylobacter jejuni (C,jejuni)-derived CRISPR-Cas9 US Patent Registration/US Patent Office
2020
Jan
US patent registration related to CRISPR genetic scissors source technology / US Patent Office
Apr
Genetic scissors Petunia jointly developed with Chungnam National University, Non-GMO(Am I Regulated?) approved by the US Department of Agriculture/USA
Jul
Non-GMO(Am I Regulated?) Approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Genetically Edited High Oleic Acid Soybeans/USDA
Aug
Registered a patent in Hong Kong related to CRISPR genetic scissors source technology/Hong Kong Intellectual Property Office
Nov
Registered a patent for CRISPR-Cas9 derived from Campylobacter jejuni (C.jejuni) in Australia
Dec
Initiation of CRISPR-Cas9 genetic scissors technology patent infringement examination / US Patent and Appeals Board (PTAB)
2021
Jan
Registered a patent in India related to CRISPR genetic scissors source technology/Indian Intellectual Property Office
Dec
Listed on KOSDAQ/Korea Exchange
2022
Sep
CRISPR-Cas9 gene scissors technology patent infringement trial Motion Phase victory (Senior Party status confirmed) / Indian Intellectual Property Office Approval of GMO regulation exemption for gene-edited new varieties of browning-inhibited potatoes/US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
ToolGen Location
Headquarter:
8F, 172 Magokjungang-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07789
Osong R&D Center:
1-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do(the Osong Biohealth Complex)