CRISPR Therapeutics Surges 9% Despite Earnings Miss as Casgevy Adoption Accelerates
CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) defied expectations with a 9.2% rally Friday, shrugging off a dismal Q4 showing of just $864,000 revenue and a $1.37 per-share loss. The surge was fueled by Vertex Pharmaceuticals' bullish $500M+ 2026 revenue forecast for non-CF therapies, particularly CRISPR's sickle cell treatment Casgevy.
Casgevy's traction is undeniable: 147 patients initiated therapy in 2025 (triple 2024's count), driving $116M annual revenue. With reimbursement now covering 90% of eligible U.S. patients and European/Middle Eastern access expanding, CRISPR's $1.98B cash position positions it to advance pipeline candidates like CTX310 and CTX321.
The market's response highlights biotech investors' focus on long-term adoption curves over quarterly noise. As one analyst noted: 'When you're commercializing the first CRISPR therapy, revenue lags clinical wins—but the wins are mounting.'
