CRISPR Therapeutics Just Slashed Its Staff by 10%. Should Shareholders Be Worried?

Given that the company and its collaborator Vertex Pharmaceuticals will hear back on Dec. 8 from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the approval of exa-cel, their candidate to treat or cure sickle cell disease (SCD), the move is apt to rustle some feathers among shareholders. CRISPR's gene therapy exa-cel is already approved in the U.K. The odds for it getting approval in the U.S. look optimistic, based on recent discussions with regulators. In CRISPR Therapeutics' case, any concerns about it keeping the lights on are overblown.