Editas Medicine

Supported by ACTTION/PASI with the US FDA, this article reflects authors' views, not FDA endorsement. ACTTION's funding includes FDA, pharmaceutical companies, and others. Authors disclose consulting fees and research grants from various entities, with some having no conflicts.

2024 was a challenging year for the biopharma industry, with companies like Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Johnson & Johnson cutting hundreds to thousands of jobs. Cassava Sciences announced layoffs of 10 employees, 33% of its workforce, following a failed Phase III trial for its Alzheimer's drug. CytomX Therapeutics cut 40% of its staff to focus on clinical programs. Velia, a San Diego biotech, is shutting down, affecting 47 employees. Regeneron's acquisition of Oxular led to layoffs, with no Oxular employees joining Regeneron. Javara, Ring Therapeutics, Outlook Therapeutics, Editas, Bavarian Nordic, BenevolentAI, Chroma Medicine and Nvelop Therapeutics, Cellectar Biosciences, Carisma Therapeutics, Belharra Therapeutics, National Resilience, AmplifyBio, Agenus, Alligator Bioscience, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, Kronos Bio, Novartis, Recursion Therapeutics, Medigene, Alector, Bristol Myers Squibb, Sonata Therapeutics, 23andMe, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Gilead Sciences, Adaptimmune, Sensei Biotherapeutics, Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Orna Therapeutics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Charles River Laboratories, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Viracta Therapeutics, Astellas Gene Therapies, Sana Biotechnology, Sage Therapeutics, Compass Pathways, Spero Therapeutics, ICON, Pfizer, Takeda, SalioGen Therapeutics, Evonik, Medtronic, CareFusion Resources, Turnstone Biologics, Leo Pharma, Astellas Pharma, Prime Medicine, Kaléo, Stryker, Relay Therapeutics, ImmunityBio, Shattuck Labs, Inventprise, bluebird bio, Athira Pharma, AGC Biologics, Oncternal Therapeutics, Biosense Webster, Vesigen Therapeutics, Connect Biopharma, BioMarin, IN8bio, Edwards Lifesciences, DermTech, Repare Therapeutics, Genentech, Tome Biosciences, Aadi Bioscience, Lykos Therapeutics, Evotec, Galera Therapeutics, Grail, Ovid Therapeutics, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Acelyrin, Boundless Bio, FibroGen, Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services, AN2 Therapeutics, Entero Therapeutics, Precigen, Sumitomo Pharma America, uniQure, Vir Biotechnology, Arbutus Biopharma, HilleVax, and Bayer also announced significant layoffs, reflecting a tough year for the industry.

Editas Medicine, Inc. announced CEO Gilmore O’Neill will present at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on January 15, 2025. A live webcast will be available on their website, with an archived replay for 30 days. Editas focuses on CRISPR/Cas12a and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing for developing in vivo medicines.

Studies show non-transplant salvage therapy for low-risk relapsed/refractory pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma achieves high progression-free and overall survival rates, comparable to autologous stem cell transplant. PET-guided therapy offers excellent outcomes, suggesting ASCT may be reserved for higher-risk patients.

The cell and gene therapy sectors are rapidly advancing, with updates on PepGen's PGN-EDO51 IND hold, innovative payment models for high-cost treatments, Janssen and Legend Biotech's Carvykti showing higher MRD negativity rates, Bristol Myers Squibb and 2seventy bio's Abecma responses in CNS-affected MM patients, Editas Medicine discontinuing EDIT-301 development, and SpliceBio's SB-007 receiving IND clearance for Stargardt disease treatment.

Editas Medicine, Inc. plans to lay off 65% of its workforce, affecting about 180 people, to optimize costs and focus on in vivo gene editing. The company is ending its reni-cel program due to lack of a commercial partner. Key management members will leave, with Jessica Hopfield becoming Board Chair from Dec. 31, 2024.

Editas Medicine lays off 65% of staff, shelving its sickle cell disease treatment Reni-Cel; Ionis Pharmaceuticals shifts to in-house drug commercialization; GLP-1 drugs spark debate in Trump's circle; investors sue Bristol Myers Squibb over Padlock Therapeutics milestone payments.

Editas Medicine lays off 65% of staff and shelves lead gene-editing program.

The global genome editing market, valued at USD 5.5 billion in 2022, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% to USD 17.5 billion by 2031, driven by advancements in CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies, increasing applications in therapeutics and agriculture, and rising investments in genetic research and development.

The Usher Syndrome market, valued at USD 77 million in 2023 across 7MM, is expected to grow through 2034. Key therapies include Ultevursen, NPI-001, and AAV-USH1C, with companies like Laboratoires Théa and Nacuity Pharmaceuticals leading innovations. AAVantgarde Bio's AAVB-081 received FDA Orphan Drug Designation. The market's growth is driven by new therapies and gene-based research, addressing the genetic disorder's hearing loss and retinopathy.