CRISPR Therapeutics: A High-Risk, High-Reward Biotech Play
CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -1.37%) remains a niche player in the biotech sector, with a modest $6 billion market cap and limited revenue streams. The company continues to operate at a loss, with profitability not expected in the NEAR term. Yet, for investors willing to embrace risk, CRISPR offers tantalizing upside potential.
The company's foundation lies in groundbreaking gene-editing technology developed by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier. Their CRISPR-Cas9 system enables precise modifications to DNA, opening doors to previously unimaginable medical treatments. The science remains in its infancy, as evidenced by the FDA's first-ever approval of a CRISPR-based therapy, Casgevy, in December 2023 for sickle cell disease.