What is CRISPR in simple words
CRISPR is a technology that allows you to literally “fix mistakes” in the genetic code. Think of DNA as a huge library where each cell contains billions of letters. CRISPR is a tool that gives scientists the ability to find the right “page”, cross out one word and replace it with another. And all with incredible precision and speed.
It’s essentially a guidance system first discovered in bacteria as a defense mechanism against viruses. Nobel Prize-winning scientists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna have adapted it for medicine. They have learned to direct the Cas9 protein – a kind of molecular scissors – to the desired section of DNA. Once cut, the genome can be “repaired” by adding or removing the desired sections.
Why is there so much noise around this technology? Because for the first time in history it allowed not just to treat the consequences of diseases, but to eliminate them at the level of causes. And this is not a theory – in 2025 there are already patients who have received therapy based on CRISPR, and got rid of genetic pathologies, which a few years ago were considered incurable.
CRISPR companies and their stock on the NASDAQ stock exchange
CRISPR Therapeutics CRSP stock on NASDAQ and the first approved breakthrough
CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) is a pioneer and industry leader. In late 2023, the company, in collaboration with Vertex, received FDA approval for Casgevy, the world’s first CRISPR therapeutic for the treatment of sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia. This event made history: it was the first time gene editing received a green light from regulators and began to be used in medical practice.
CRSP stock is traded on NASDAQ and remains a focus for investors, especially after Casgevy begins commercial shipments in 2024. In addition, the company is actively advancing oncology projects – including edited T cells to fight acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
CRSP’s portfolio includes multiple programs in phases 1/2, and their partnership with Bayer strengthens their entry into the oncology segment.
Shares of Intellia Therapeutics NTLA on NASDAQ and a bet on in vivo editing
Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) is the first company to prove that DNA editing is possible inside the body (in vivo), not just in the lab. Their lipid nanoparticle-based delivery platform (similar to mRNA vaccines) allows CRISPR components to be injected directly into the bloodstream, where they find and repair the desired stretch of DNA. The company is traded on NASDAQ and its capitalization remains robust. NTLA is actively advancing three key programs in 2025 – NTLA-2001 (ATTR), NTLA-2002 (angioedema) and NTLA-3001 (liver). It is also preparing new projects in autoimmune and metabolic diseases. Investors perceive Intellia as a platform player with the potential to fill a broad niche in the medicine of the future.
Beam Therapeutics BEAM stock on NASDAQ and the development of base editing technology
Beam Therapeutics (BEAM) is betting on base editing technology, which is a point editing approach that can change a single “letter” in DNA without cutting the double helix. This approach reduces the likelihood of adverse mutations and offers an advantage in treating chronic or systemic diseases.
The company’s stock is traded on NASDAQ and is attractive to investors looking for a less risky route into the CRISPR sector. Beam has active collaborations with Pfizer (cardiology) and Verve Therapeutics (lipid metabolism), is developing its own manufacturing platform, and is showing progress on its BEAM-101 candidate. In 2025, its clinical data on anemia has sparked a new round of interest from growth funds.
Editas Medicine EDIT stock on NASDAQ and the potential for an innovative platform
Editas Medicine (EDIT) is one of the oldest entrants in the sector, having been started with backing from the Broad Institute and MIT. The company develops solutions using both Cas9 and Cas12a, allowing you to choose the more appropriate tool depending on the task. Its main project, EDIT-101, aims to treat Leber’s congenital amaurosia (a rare form of hereditary blindness).
In 2023, Editas restructured, cut costs and focused on the 2-3 most advanced areas. The focus is now shifted to therapies for blood and visual system diseases.
The company has an impressive patent portfolio that protects it from competitors in key segments.
Comparison of Public CRISPR Companies (as of July 2025)
| Company | Ticker | Main Focus | Development Stage | Key Partnerships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRISPR Therapeutics | CRSP | Gene therapies (Casgevy) | Commercial product | Vertex, Bayer |
| Intellia Therapeutics | NTLA | In vivo gene editing | Phase 1–2 | Regeneron |
| Beam Therapeutics | BEAM | Base editing (precision editing) | Phase 1 | Pfizer, Verve |
| Editas Medicine | EDIT | Vision, hemoglobinopathies, Cas12a | Phase 1 | Broad Institute |
| Caribou Biosciences | CRBU | Oncology-focused CAR-T cell therapy | Phase 1 | Former AbbVie collaboration |
Caribou Biosciences CRBU stock on NASDAQ and CRISPR applications in oncology
Caribou Biosciences (CRBU) is one of the few companies using CRISPR to modify immune cells as part of oncology programs. Its platform is based on Cas12a and aims to create “off-the-shelf” CAR-T cells that can be used without customization for each patient.
CRBU stock is traded on NASDAQ and is considered an interesting entry point for investors focused on oncology innovation. Its flagship project CB-010 is in clinical trials for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and has already demonstrated remissions. The development of allogeneic CAR-T solutions gives the company a chance to occupy an important niche in the therapy of hard-to-treat cancers.
Real-world application of CRISPR in 2025 and future scenario
As of mid-2025, CRISPR is already being used not in theory but in practice. The drug Casgevy is marketed in the US, UK and EU countries. Patients with severe hereditary anemias are receiving treatments that were previously impossible. In addition, clinical trials involving real patients cover dozens of indications, from ATTR and angioedema to blindness and oncology.
In addition to medicine, CRISPR is being actively implemented in agriculture – to create crops resistant to heat and pests, in the production of biofuels, synthetic proteins, and even in the development of solutions for microbiological purification systems. Technology is becoming part of the global infrastructure.
The speed of integration is unprecedented. If current trends continue, within 5 years CRISPR could be the basis for hundreds of approved therapies that have changed the standard of care around the world.
Why investing in CRISPR stocks is becoming a strategic decision
Investing in CRISPR stocks is no longer a niche bet, but an element of a long-term strategy. Public companies like CRISPR Therapeutics, Intellia, Beam, Editas, and Caribou have gone from laboratory prototypes to actual clinical products. They are traded on NASDAQ, partnering with Big Pharma and expanding into international markets.
Growth-oriented funds see these companies as a source of multiplicative returns. ESG investors are a chance to back technologies aimed at eradicating rare and serious diseases. Even speculators find volatility here suitable for active trading.
What’s in store for investors on the three-year horizon
IPOs of new CRISPR companies – such as Scribe Therapeutics, Tessera and Metagenomi – are expected to proliferate over the next 2-3 years. More mature players will be more active in entering into partnerships, and possibly merging. This creates potential growth points for stocks already outstanding.
In addition, new drug approvals are accelerating. The FDA, EMA and other regulators are already customizing procedures for gene therapies. This could lead to explosive growth in the number of CRISPR-approved products by 2027 – and the resulting increase in company revenues and interest in their stocks.
An attentive investor can already build a portfolio based on this sector today – with a 5-10 year horizon. And with technology becoming the core of the future economy, such a strategy may be one of the most sensible.
Investing in biotech stocks isn’t just about being into science; it’s a smart bet on breakthroughs that could change the market and people’s lives. Especially now that genome editing tech is becoming a thing and the first products are getting approved. Biotech is one of the few sectors where early investments can transform into multiple returns.
By the way, if you are interested in more ideas for your portfolio, check out our article on one of the most promising biopharmaceutical companies, Revolution Medicines (RVMD). It is developing innovative approaches to the treatment of RAS tumors and is actively moving towards approval. Read more in our detailed review: Biotech company Revolution Medicines (RVMD) prospects for investors in cancer therapeutics
