Gene-Therapy Company Crispr Drops as FDA Puts Trial on Hold

  • Shares drop 19 percent after-hours, partner Vertex also down
  • ‘The FDA is going to be cautious,’ Baird analyst says
Photographer: Mario Tama/Getty Images North America
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Crispr Therapeutics AG plunged after the gene-editing company said a planned trial of its treatment to help people with sickle-cell disease was being put on hold by U.S. regulators.

Crispr is developing the therapy with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., and the trial had yet to begin. The companies said in a statementBloomberg Terminal Wednesday that the Food and Drug Administration placed a halt on the experiment until the agency could get more information from the companies.