Business Corpus: These Stocks Pop After FDA Expedites Review Of Gene-Editing TherapyCrispr Therapeutics popped Friday after the FDA said it would expedite review of its Vertex Pharmaceuticals-partnered gene-editing sickle cell disease treatment. The post These Stocks Pop After FDA Expedites Review Of Gene-Editing Therapy appeared first on Investor's Business Daily.

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Crispr Therapeutics (CRSP) popped Friday after the Food and Drug Administration announced plans to expedite review of its Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)-partnered gene-editing treatment.

On the stock market today, Crispr stock jumped 8%, to 30.27, as Vertex stock rose 5.5%, to 172.70. Shares of fellow gene-editing firms Editas Medicine (EDIT) and Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) advanced 5.7% and 6.9%, respectively.

The FDA granted Crispr and Vertex's gene-editing drug, CTX001, a fast track designation. CTX001 is under investigation in the U.S. as a treatment for sickle cell disease. The companies create the drug using CRISPR gene-editing technology.

In Europe, Crispr and Vertex are testing CTX001 in patients with beta thalassemia.

What Is CRISPR Gene-Editing?

CRISPR — which differs from the company by the same name — edits genes to treat diseases caused by a single genetic mutation. Other methods by Bluebird Bio (BLUE) and Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO) have the names TALENs and zinc finger nucleases, respectively.

In this method of editing genes, specialized strands of DNA act as molecular "scissors." Those scissors cut DNA to allow a drug to edit, add or remove faulty genes responsible for diseases.

Fellow biotech Intellia is in late preclinical tests of gene-editing therapies in transthyretin amyloidosis and sickle cell disease. Transthyretin amyloidosis occurs when abnormal protein called amyloid builds up in the body, causing systemic damage.

Intellia partners with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) and Novartis (NVS).

Editas is also using gene-editing technology in sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. The biotech is looking at an injected treatment for an inherited eye disease called Leber congenital amaurosis.

Juno Therapeutics — which was acquired last year by Celgene (CELG) — has commercial rights to Editas' gene-editing work in immune system cells as a cancer treatment. Celgene, itself, is in the process of being acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY).

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The post These Stocks Pop After FDA Expedites Review Of Gene-Editing Therapy appeared first on Investor's Business Daily.