Editas Medicine
{{Short description|Discovery-phase pharmaceutical company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Editas Medicine, Inc.
| logo = Editas_Medicine_logo.svg
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| logo_caption =
| logo_padding =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| trading_name =
| former_name = Gengine, Inc.
| type = Public
| traded_as = {{Unbulleted list|{{NASDAQ|EDIT}}|Russell 2000 component}}
| ISIN =
| industry = {{Unbulleted list|Biotechnology|Genome engineering|Pharmaceutical}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|2013|11}}, in Cambridge, Massachusetts
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Jennifer Doudna| Feng Zhang| George Church| David R. Liu| J. Keith Joung}}
| hq_location_city = Cambridge, Massachusetts
| hq_location_country = United States
| num_locations = 2
| num_locations_year =
| area_served =
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|James Mullen (chairman)|Gilmore O'Neill (president and CEO)}}
| products =
| revenue = {{decrease}} {{US$|19.7 million}}
| revenue_year = 2022
| operating_income = {{decrease}} {{US$|-226 million}}
| income_year = 2022
| net_income = {{decrease}} {{US$|-220 million}}
| net_income_year = 2022
| assets = {{decrease}} {{US$|514 million}}
| assets_year = 2022
| equity = {{decrease}} {{US$|361 million}}
| equity_year = 2022
| owner =
| num_employees = 226
| num_employees_year = 2023
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| website = {{URL|editasmedicine.com}}
}}
Editas Medicine, Inc., (formerly Gengine, Inc.), is a clinical-stage biotechnology company which is developing therapies for rare diseases based on CRISPR gene editing technology.{{cite journal|date=10 Feb 2016|title=The week in science: 5–11 February 2016|journal=Nature|volume=530|issue=7589|at=Business: CRISPR goes public|doi=10.1038/530134a|bibcode=2016Natur.530..134.|doi-access=free}}{{open access}}{{cite news |title=Editas Wins FDA Approval for IND of CRISPR Treatment for LCA10 |url=https://www.genengnews.com/news/editas-wins-fda-approval-for-ind-of-crispr-treatment-for-lca10/ |access-date=20 August 2020 |work=Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News |date=30 November 2018}} Editas headquarters is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has facilities in Boulder, Colorado.{{cite news |last=Werley|first=Jensen|date=5 September 2019|title=How Boulder biotech companies are putting Colorado on the gene-editing map|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2019/09/05/boulder-colorado-biotech-gene-editing.html|work=Denver Business Journal|access-date=27 October 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Symington |first1=Steve |title=Editas Medicine Remains on Track |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/08/06/editas-medicine-remains-on-track.aspx |access-date=20 August 2020 |work=The Motley Fool |date=20 August 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Who We Are|url=https://www.editasmedicine.com/about/|access-date=2022-02-25|website=Editas Medicine|language=en-US}}
History
Editas Medicine was originally founded with the name "Gengine, Inc." in September 2013 by Feng Zhang of the Broad Institute, Jennifer Doudna of the University of California, Berkeley,{{Cite news|last=Rockoff|first=Jonathan|date=2015-06-29|title=Why Gene-Editing Technology Has Scientists Excited|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-gene-editing-technology-has-scientists-excited-1434985998|access-date=2021-05-27|issn=0099-9660}} and George Church, David Liu, and J. Keith Joung of Harvard University, with funding from Third Rock Ventures, Polaris Partners and Flagship Ventures; the name was changed to the current "Editas Medicine" two months later. Doudna quit in June 2014 over legal differences concerning intellectual property of Cas9.{{Cite book|last=Isaacson|first=Walter|title=The Code Breaker|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=2021|isbn=978-1-9821-1585-2|pages=209–212|author-link=Walter Isaacson}}{{cite web | url=https://www.fiercebiotech.com/r-d/biotech-pioneer-gene-editing-launches-43m-vc-cash | publisher=FierceBiotech | title=Biotech pioneer in 'gene editing' launches with $43M in VC cash| author=John Carroll | date= Nov 25, 2013}}
In August 2015, the company raised $120 million in Series B funding from Bill Gates and 13 other investors.{{cite news |last1=Nowogrodzki |first1=Anna |title=Gene-Editing Startup Raises $120 Million to Apply CRISPR to Medicine |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2015/08/10/110076/gene-editing-startup-raises-120-million-to-apply-crispr-to-medicine/ |access-date=12 August 2020 |work=MIT Technology Review |date=10 August 2015}}{{cite news |last=Loria|first=Kevin|date=12 April 2018|title=Bill Gates says it would be a 'tragedy' to pass up a controversial, revolutionary gene-editing technology|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-pushing-genetic-editing-with-crispr-2018-4|work=Business Insider}} it went public on 2 February 2016, via an initial public offering that raised $94 million.{{cite news |last=Pflanzer|first=Lydia|date=2 February 2016|title=A Bill Gates-backed startup that wants to edit your genes just raised nearly $100 million|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/editas-ipo-raises-944-million-2016-2|work=Business Insider}}{{cite news |last1=Fidler |first1=Ben |title=CRISPR Hits Wall Street as Editas Bags $94M in IPO |url=https://xconomy.com/boston/2016/02/02/crispr-hits-wall-street-as-editas-bags-94m-in-ipo/ |access-date=12 August 2020 |work=Xconomy |date=2 February 2016}}
The company entered into a strategic collaboration with Juno Therapeutics in 2015 to combine its CRISPR-Cas9 technology with Juno's experience in creating chimeric antigen receptor and high-affinity T cell receptor therapeutics to the end of developing cancer therapeutics.{{Cite journal|url = http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/juno-editas-launch-up-to-737m-cancer-therapy-collaboration/81251315/|title = Juno, Editas Launch Up-to-$737M+ Cancer Therapy Collaboration|date = 27 May 2015|journal = Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News|access-date = 2016-02-11}}{{Open access}} Juno was later acquired by Celgene,{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/celgene-to-buy-juno-therapeutics-for-9-billion-1516624153|title=Celgene to Buy Juno Therapeutics for $9 Billion|last=Lombardo|first=Cara|date=2018-01-22|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2018-01-22|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}} which was in turn acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb.[https://news.bms.com/press-release/corporatefinancial-news/bristol-myers-squibb-completes-acquisition-celgene-creating-le Bristol-Myers Squibb Completes Acquisition of Celgene, Creating a Leading Biopharma Company], PM BMS, November 20, 2019; retrieved May 20, 2020
The company announced in 2015 that it was planning a clinical trial in 2017 using CRISPR gene editing techniques to treat Leber congenital amaurosis type 10 (LCA10), a rare genetic illness that causes blindness.{{cite news |last=Kuchler|first=Hannah|date=6 January 2020|title=Crispr puts first human in-body gene editing to test|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0fbf0604-1df5-11ea-97df-cc63de1d73f4|work=Financial Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/543181/crispr-gene-editing-to-be-tested-on-people-by-2017-says-editas/|title=CRISPR Gene Editing to Be Tested on People by 2017, Says Editas|last=Regalado|first=Antonio|date=2015-11-05|website=MIT Technology Review|access-date=2016-06-21}} On 30 November 2018, the FDA gave permission to start the trials, under the investigational name EDIT-101 (also known as AGN-151587).{{cite journal |date=7 April 2020|title=First CRISPR therapy dosed|journal=Nature|volume=38|issue=4|page=382|doi=10.1038/s41587-020-0493-4|pmid=32265555|doi-access= free}}{{cite journal |last1=Sheridan|first1=Cormac|date=14 December 2018|title=Go-ahead for first in-body CRISPR medicine testing|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41587-018-00003-2|journal=Nature|doi=10.1038/d41587-018-00003-2|s2cid=91818387 |access-date=21 December 2018|url-access=subscription}} In September 2021, a statement from Editas claimed that preliminary results from clinical trials were promising and support clinical benefits of EDIT-101 treatment.{{Cite web|date=29 September 2021|title=Editas Medicine Announces Positive Initial Clinical Data From Ongoing Phase 1/2 BRILLIANCE Clinical Trial Of EDIT-101 For LCA10|url=https://ir.editasmedicine.com/news-releases/news-release-details/editas-medicine-announces-positive-initial-clinical-data-ongoing|url-status=live|access-date=5 November 2021|website=Editas Medicine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929204833/https://ir.editasmedicine.com/news-releases/news-release-details/editas-medicine-announces-positive-initial-clinical-data-ongoing |archive-date=2021-09-29 }}
In March 2020, Editas, in partnership with Allergan, was the first to use CRISPR to try to edit DNA inside a person's body (in vivo). As part of the clinical trial, a patient who was nearly blind as a result of Leber's congenital amaurosis received an intravitreal injection containing a harmless virus carrying CRISPR gene-editing instructions.{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Rob |title=In A 1st, Scientists Use Revolutionary Gene-Editing Tool To Edit Inside A Patient |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/04/811461486/in-a-1st-scientists-use-revolutionary-gene-editing-tool-to-edit-inside-a-patient |access-date=12 August 2020 |work=NPR |date=4 March 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Terry |first1=Mark |title=Allergan and Editas Dose First Patient in Historic CRISPR Trial for Inherited Blindness |url=https://www.biospace.com/article/allergan-and-editas-dose-1st-patient-in-crispr-trial/ |access-date=12 August 2020 |work=BioSpace |date=4 March 2020}} Five months later, Editas reworked its deal with Allergan's owner AbbVie and regained full rights to their range of eye disease treatment therapies, including EDIT-101 for the treatment of LCA10.{{cite news |last1=Fidler |first1=Ben |title=Editas, AbbVie rework gene editing deal as pioneering CRISPR trial resumes |url=https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/editas-abbvie-end-crispr-gene-editing-deal/583118/ |access-date=12 August 2020 |work=BioPharma Dive |date=7 August 2020}}
In 2019, the company was building new chemistry facilities in Boulder, Colorado.
Katrine Bosley was CEO until 2019, when she was replaced by board member Cynthia Collins.{{cite news|last1=Dearment|first1=Alaric|date=22 January 2019|title=Editas Medicine CEO steps down as company moves into product development stage|work=MedCity News|url=https://medcitynews.com/2019/01/editas-medicine-ceo-steps-down-as-company-moves-into-product-development-stage/|access-date=12 August 2020}}{{cite news|last=DeAngelis|first=Allison|date=6 August 2019|title=Editas became Cindy Collins. CEO|work=Boston Business Journal|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2019/08/06/editas-picks-cindy-collins-as-permanent-chief.html}} Collins was replaced in 2021 by James Mullen, who had been board chairman.{{cite press release|last=|first=|date=8 February 2021|title=Editas Medicine Announces Appointment Of James C. Mullen As Chief Executive Officer|url=|location=|publisher=Editas Medicine|agency=}} Gilmore O'Neill, former CMO of Sarepta Therapeutics, became CEO on June 1, 2022, with Mullen staying on as executive chairman of the board.{{cite news |last1=Keown |first1=Alex |title=Gilmore O'Neill "Excited" to Take the Reins at Editas Medicine |url=https://www.biospace.com/article/gilmore-o-neill-excited-to-take-the-reins-at-editas-medicine- |access-date=2 June 2022 |work=BioSpace |date=14 April 2022}} On December 12, 2024, Editas ended the development of reni-cel and laid off 65% of its employees.{{Cite web |last=Inc |first=Editas Medicine |date=2024-12-12 |title=Editas Medicine Announces Strategic Transition to in vivo Gene Editing Company with Intent to Achieve Human Proof of Concept in Approximately Two Years |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/12/12/2996508/0/en/Editas-Medicine-Announces-Strategic-Transition-to-in-vivo-Gene-Editing-Company-with-Intent-to-Achieve-Human-Proof-of-Concept-in-Approximately-Two-Years.html |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en}}
Research
Editas works with two different CRISPR nucleases, Cas9 and Cas12a.{{Cite journal|last1=Pickar-Oliver|first1=Adrian|last2=Gersbach|first2=Charles A.|date=August 2019|title=The next generation of CRISPR–Cas technologies and applications|url= |journal=Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology|language=en|volume=20|issue=8|pages=490–507|doi=10.1038/s41580-019-0131-5|pmid=31147612|issn=1471-0080|pmc=7079207}}
EDIT-101 is a CRISPR based gene therapy for treatment of Leber congenital amaurosis, which is currently in clinical trials.
EDIT-301 is an experimental potential treatment utilizing the firm's CAS 12a editing technology for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. In 2019 the firm reported early success in research on the drug;.{{cite news|last1=Rees|first1=Victoria|date=20 June 2019|title=Experimental treatment for sickle cell disease success|work=Drug Target Review|url=https://www.drugtargetreview.com/news/45322/experimental-treatment-for-sickle-cell-disease-success/|access-date=20 August 2020}}{{cite news|last1=Wong|first1=Sandi|date=10 December 2019|title=Editas shows better gene editing using Cas9 alternative for sickle cell, thalassemia|work=BioCentury|url=https://www.biocentury.com/article/304012/editas-preclinical-data-suggest-cas12a-better-than-cas9-for-edited-cell-therapy-for-sickle-cell-thalassemia|access-date=20 August 2020}} In December 2020, it filed an IND application for treatment of sickle cell disease. In January 2021, it said it had received clearance from the FDA for phase 1 safety studies.{{Cite web|last=Carvalho|first=Joana|title=FDA Clears Way for Trial of Gene Editing Therapy for Severe SCD|date=21 January 2021 |url=https://sicklecellanemianews.com/2021/01/21/fda-clears-way-edit-301-gene-editing-cell-therapy-to-enter-clinical-testing-severe-scd/|access-date=2021-03-29|language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2013 establishments in Massachusetts
Category:2016 initial public offerings
Category:Pharmaceutical companies of the United States
Category:Companies based in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq
Category:Health care companies based in Massachusetts