Intellia Halts Late-Stage CRISPR Trials Due to Safety Concerns
Intellia Therapeutics announced a temporary halt to two late-stage CRISPR gene-editing trials on Monday, following reports of a patient being hospitalized due to liver damage. This incident has raised heightened safety concerns surrounding CRISPR-based therapies.
Impact on Intellia’s Market Position
The news led to a significant drop in Intellia’s stock, which fell nearly 50% during pre-market trading. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by companies developing CRISPR technology.
Background on CRISPR and Safety Concerns
Liver damage is a known risk associated with many gene-editing therapies. These therapies often aim to modify or knock out genes within the liver. This risk factor has led other companies, such as Verve Therapeutics, to reconsider their development strategies.
- Verve Therapeutics halted its lead program for heart disease in 2024.
- Safety issues around liver complications contributed to this decision.
Intellia’s Clinical Trials
Despite the recent setback, Intellia had previously managed to avoid serious safety issues. The company has dosed hundreds of patients across its clinical trials, more than any other firm pursuing direct gene editing in patients.
As the landscape of gene-editing technology evolves, safety remains a crucial concern. Intellia’s decision to pause its trials reflects the complexity of balancing innovation with patient safety.
