The San Francisco-based company has taken a step forward with proof of concept for its ‘switch on or switch off’ approach to gene regulation via non-cutting CRISPR molecules.

Panelists at the BIO CEO and Investor Conference foresee some changes coming as biotech investors become more judicious about where they park their money.

Editas is seen as a slow developer in the CRISPR-based therapeutics field compared with its rivals but its new CEO has unveiled a new strategy to speed progress.

From a scientific perspective, the outlook for patient with rare disease has never been brighter. This year, 13 new cell or gene therapies could be approved in the US, Europe or both by the end of 2023. However, the challenges that stop patients accessing new therapies remain. Could this year be the turning point when our health care systems start to catch up with our science?