CRISPR scientists are in for the long haul. Wall Street is less patient
JUNE 11, 2018
Wall Street freaked out about CRISPR again
Investors’ bullishness on the potential of gene editing has made a trio of startups into multibillion-dollar enterprises. But the latest blowup, courtesy of a pair of scientific papers, provides a jarring reminder to the market: Until this newfangled technology is proved safe in actual humans, investing in CRISPR stocks a head-spinning experience.
The three big CRISPR companies lost nearly $500 million in value Monday after two freshly published papers warned that gene-edited cells could be breeding grounds for cancer. Each paper is based on preclinical research, and scientists said the finding is hardly a death knell for the nascent field of CRISPR.
But Wall Street, wary of any safety concerns that could derail gene-editing medicines’ path to the clinic, wasn’t feeling patient. CRISPR Therapeutics lost as much as 17 percent of its value in intraday trading, closing at a 13 percent discount to its opening price. Intellia and Editas each fell as much as 11 percent. Even Sangamo Therapeutics, whose approach to gene editing has nothing to do with CRISPR, saw its shares decline 6 percent.
The three big CRISPR companies lost nearly $500 million in value Monday after two freshly published papers warned that gene-edited cells could be breeding grounds for cancer. Each paper is based on preclinical research, and scientists said the finding is hardly a death knell for the nascent field of CRISPR.
But Wall Street, wary of any safety concerns that could derail gene-editing medicines’ path to the clinic, wasn’t feeling patient. CRISPR Therapeutics lost as much as 17 percent of its value in intraday trading, closing at a 13 percent discount to its opening price. Intellia and Editas each fell as much as 11 percent. Even Sangamo Therapeutics, whose approach to gene editing has nothing to do with CRISPR, saw its shares decline 6 percent.
.png)
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario