Crispr Is Still Promising, Even If Editas’s Experiment Falls Short
One attempt to repair a faulty eye gene had disappointing results, but the technology can be expected to one day treat all sorts of genetic diseases.
Crispr technology.
Photographer: Gregor Fischer/picture alliance via Getty ImagesCrispr technology, which can precisely edit DNA, is one of the most celebrated scientific advances in recent years. Its inventors have won a Nobel Prize, and billions of dollars have been invested in its potential to transform medicine. Now a pioneering Crispr biotech company has stumbled. But it only means the revolution may take a little longer than hoped.
Editas Medicine Inc. has released data from a small clinical trial that was the first to try using Crispr to directly edit DNA in a human patient — in this case, to treat a rare eye condition. Unfortunately, the early results didn't live up to expectations. A low dose given to two patients didn’t appear to be effective. And among four who got a larger dose, only one saw a substantial improvement in vision across multiple measurements. As a result, shares in the company fell more than 19%.