CRISPR Therapeutics AG is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes gene-based therapies using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing platform. The company's main focus is on the development of gene therapies for the treatment of genetic diseases, such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, as well as immuno-oncology and regenerative medicine applications. CRISPR Therapeutics is headquartered in Switzerland and has offices in the United States and the United Kingdom.
CRISPR Therapeutics AG was founded in 2013 by Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier, Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou, and Dr. Shaun Foy, who were among the pioneers of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system. The company's IPO was in October 2016, raising over $56 million. Since then, the company has gone public on the NASDAQ, and has attracted significant funding from investors and partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies.
The company's gene-editing technology enables the precise editing of genetic material by cutting DNA strands and inserting, deleting or modifying specific sequences. CRISPR Therapeutics uses this technology to develop treatments for genetic diseases by correcting mutations that cause the disease. The company is also working on therapies that use the immune system to fight cancer.
CRISPR Therapeutics is currently conducting clinical trials of its therapies, and has several ongoing partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, including Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, and ViaCyte, among others. The company has a strong patent portfolio and has filed numerous patent applications related to its gene-editing technology.
Despite some concerns over the safety and ethical implications of gene editing, CRISPR Therapeutics has demonstrated promising results in its preclinical and early-stage clinical trials. The company's innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of genetic diseases and has generated significant interest from investors and the pharmaceutical industry.