CRISPR Therapeutics Q1 Earnings and Sales Miss Estimates, Stock Tanks

Core Insights - CRISPR Therapeutics reported a first-quarter 2025 loss of $1.58 per share, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of$1.27 per share, and compared to a loss of $1.43 per share in the same period last year [1] - Total revenues for the quarter were$0.86 million, significantly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5 million, and up from$0.5 million in the year-ago period [1] - The company's shares fell nearly 12% following the weak quarterly performance, with a year-to-date decline of 15.8%, compared to the industry decline of 2.3% [2] Financial Performance - Research and development expenses decreased by approximately 5% year over year to $72.5 million, attributed to reduced employee-related costs [6] - General and administrative expenses increased by 7.2$19.3 million [6] - Collaboration expenses rose to $57.5 million in the first quarter from$47.0 million in the previous year, driven by costs related to the Casgevy therapy [6] - As of March 31, 2025, the company had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling $1.86 billion, down from$1.90 billion as of December 31, 2024 [7] Product Development and Pipeline - CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Casgevy therapy received approval for treating sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia in several countries [4] - Vertex reported Casgevy sales of $14.2 million in the first quarter, with over 65 authorized treatment centers activated and more than 90 patients initiating cell collection [5] - The company is evaluating two in-vivo candidates, CTX310 and CTX320, in separate phase I clinical studies targeting atherosclerotic heart disease [8] - Initial data from the CTX310 study showed dose-dependent decreases in LDL and TG levels, with peak reductions of up to 82% in TG and 81% in LDL [9] - CTX320 is targeting the LPA gene in patients with elevated Lp(a), with updates expected in the second quarter of 2025 [10] - CRISPR is also conducting phase I/II studies on next-generation allogeneic CAR T product candidates, CTX112 and CTX13, with updates anticipated in mid-2025 [10][11]