CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) is among the top 10 stocks to buy from Cathie Wood’s stock portfolio. CRISPR made up roughly 3.8% of ARK Investment’s disclosed equity portfolio at third-quarter-end, with a position valued at approximately $634 million. ARK decreased its exposure slightly in Q3, reducing its holdings from 10.18 million to 9.79 million shares. As of November 27, CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) has a moderately positive opinion, with 60% analysts covering it having a Buy or equival ...

Core Insights - Editas Medicine, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing gene editing technologies, specifically utilizing its proprietary CRISPR technology to create transformative medicines [1] - Editas competes with other companies in the gene editing sector, including Intellia Therapeutics, CRISPR Therapeutics, Beam Therapeutics, and Pacific Biosciences of California [1] Financial Performance - Editas Medicine's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is -154.03%, which is significantly lower than its Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) of 13.54%, indicating insufficient returns on invested capital [2] - The ROIC to WACC ratio for Editas is -11.38, highlighting a concerning disparity between returns and capital costs [2] - In comparison, Intellia Therapeutics has a ROIC of -42.76% and a WACC of 11.66%, resulting in a less severe ROIC to WACC ratio of -3.67, suggesting slightly better capital efficiency [3] - CRISPR Therapeutics has a ROIC of -23.46% and a WACC of 11.43%, with the best ROIC to WACC ratio among peers at -2.05, indicating relatively better capital management [3] - Beam Therapeutics and Pacific Biosciences report negative ROICs of -40.86% and -86.29%, respectively, with ROIC to WACC ratios of -3.07 and -10.68, reflecting challenges in generating returns above their capital costs [4] - Overall, all companies in the gene editing space, including Editas, face difficulties in achieving returns above their cost of capital [5]

Core Insights - Precision BioSciences, Inc. is a clinical stage gene editing company focused on developing in vivo gene editing therapies for diseases with high unmet needs [1] Company Announcement - The company announced it will deliver an oral presentation at the Hep-DART 2025 meeting scheduled for December 7–11, 2025, in Honolulu, Hawaii [1] - The presentation will showcase data from the Phase 1 ELIMINATE-B trial of PBGENE-HBV [1]

Summary of Prime Medicine Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Prime Medicine (NasdaqGM:PRME) - **Technology**: Prime Editing, described as the most versatile and safest gene editing technology available, differentiating itself from CRISPR and base editing technologies [5][10][12] Key Points and Arguments Technology Differentiation - **CRISPR vs. Prime Editing**: CRISPR involves double-stranded breaks leading to potential off-target effects and chromosomal rearrangements, while Prime Editing allows for precise edits without unwanted off-target effects [8][10] - **Base Editing**: Base editing allows for single base pair changes but can result in bystander edits, which may not yield wild-type proteins [9][32] - **Prime Editing Advantages**: Capable of large multi-kilobase insertions and precise edits, returning to wild-type protein without unwanted effects [10][11] Universal LNP Technology - **LNP Differentiation**: Prime Medicine uses a unique ionizable lipid for LNP formulation, showing favorable preclinical profiles in terms of safety and potential dosing [12][13] Wilson's Disease Program - **Market Opportunity**: Targeting transversion mutations in Wilson's disease, a condition with high unmet medical need and limited competition [15][22] - **Clinical Development**: Plans to file IND/CTA in the first half of next year, with clinical data expected in 2027 [14][15] - **Biomarkers**: Utilizing copper PET scans and other biomarkers to assess treatment efficacy and potential to take patients off standard care [16][20] Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) Program - **Clinical Timeline**: Expected to enter the clinic in mid-next year with data readout in 2027 [32] - **Comparison with Base Editing**: Prime Editing aims to provide wild-type protein correction, potentially leading to better patient outcomes compared to base editing [32][33] Cystic Fibrosis Program - **Collaboration with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation**: Utilizing both AAV and LNP technologies to address unmet needs in cystic fibrosis patients who do not respond to current therapies [42][43] - **Preclinical Data Timeline**: Anticipated preclinical data in 2026 [42] Other Important Insights - **Regulatory Strategy**: Discussions with the FDA regarding a plausible mechanism pathway to expedite approvals for multiple mutations under one IND [29][30] - **Business Development**: Potential for additional partnerships and collaborations to fund and advance various programs [45][46] - **Key Catalysts**: Focus on regulatory filings for Wilson's and AATD, patient enrollment, preclinical data for cystic fibrosis, and business development deals over the next 6-12 months [52][53] This summary encapsulates the critical aspects of Prime Medicine's conference call, highlighting the company's innovative gene editing technology, ongoing clinical programs, and strategic plans for future growth.

Core Insights - Twist Bioscience Corporation (NASDAQ:TWST) is recognized as a leading gene-editing stock by hedge funds, with an Overweight rating and a price target of $41 assigned by analyst Steven Etoch from Stephens [1][2] - The company's DNA synthesis platform, which utilizes silicon chip technology, provides advantages in cost, speed, and scalability, serving markets such as drug discovery, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and synthetic biology [1][4] Financial Performance - Twist has experienced strong revenue growth of 22.7% over the past year, with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42% [2] - The company is expected to reach adjusted EBITDA break-even by the end of fiscal year 2026 [2] Market Opportunities - NGS is identified as a significant growth opportunity, particularly in applications like liquid biopsy and minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring [3] - Expansion into adjacent markets is seen as a strategy for strengthening customer relationships [3]

Industry Overview - Genetic manipulation, or gene editing, involves altering the genetic material (DNA) of organisms, which gained traction in the 1970s with the creation of recombinant DNA (rDNA) molecules and saw significant commercialization growth with the introduction of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in the 2010s [2][3] - The CRISPR ecosystem currently has 1,031 active companies, with 298 raising approximately $35.8 billion across over 1,200 funding rounds, and the industry is projected to reach a size of $10.8 billion by the end of 2025, expanding at a 16.9% CAGR to nearly $24 billion by 2030 [3] Investment Insights - Hedge funds are showing high interest in gene editing stocks, with notable investments such as BlackRock acquiring over 980,000 additional shares in a leading gene editing company in Q3 2025 [5] - The methodology for identifying the best gene-editing stocks involved reviewing sector exposure through ETF holdings and media coverage, focusing on companies developing and commercializing gene-editing technologies, resulting in a list of nine firms with strong hedge fund support [7] Company Highlights Editas Medicine Inc. (NASDAQ:EDIT) - Editas Medicine is recognized as a top gene-editing stock, with 11 hedge fund holders, and has a price target raised to $4.60 from $4.00 by Clear Street, which noted the company's extended cash runway into Q3 2027 [9][10] - The company reported Q3 2025 results with an EPS of –$0.28 and revenues increasing to $7.5 million from $0.1 million in Q3 2024, driven by collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb [11] - Editas is focused on developing transformative in vivo therapies using CRISPR technology, with plans to file for IND/CTA by mid-2026 and achieve human proof-of-concept data by year-end 2026 [12] Twist Bioscience Corporation (NASDAQ:TWST) - Twist Bioscience has 23 hedge fund holders and received an Overweight rating with a $41 price target from analyst Steven Etoch, who highlighted its differentiated DNA synthesis platform [13][14] - The company has experienced strong revenue growth of 22.7% over the past year and a five-year CAGR of 42%, with expectations to reach adjusted EBITDA break-even by the end of fiscal year 2026 [14] - Twist's proprietary silicon-based platform enables rapid gene synthesis for applications in drug discovery, diagnostics, and precision medicine, strengthening its market position [16]

Core Viewpoint - Intellia Therapeutics faces significant challenges following a patient fatality in its clinical trial, leading to a regulatory hold and a sharp decline in stock value, raising concerns about the safety of its CRISPR technology and future prospects [3][4][20]. Company Overview - Intellia Therapeutics is a leader in CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, focusing on next-generation therapies for disorders like hereditary angioedema and transthyretin amyloidosis, with a market capitalization of $1.1 billion [2]. - The company aims to transform gene editing into lasting, curative medicine through its scalable technology platform [2]. Recent Developments - NTLA stock has experienced volatility, dropping 66% from a peak of $28.25 in late October, with a 43% decline over the past year and a 19% year-to-date decrease [1]. - The stock's decline accelerated after Intellia paused dosing in its Phase 3 trials due to safety concerns, followed by an FDA-imposed clinical hold after a patient died from severe liver complications [3][4][6]. Financial Performance - In its third-quarter earnings report, Intellia reported revenues of $13.8 million, a 51% year-over-year increase, primarily due to cost reimbursements from a collaboration with Regeneron [9]. - Losses narrowed to $0.92 per share, better than expected, while R&D spending decreased by 23% to $94.7 million, indicating tighter cost control [10]. Analyst Sentiment - Following the recent setbacks, analysts have downgraded their price targets for NTLA stock, with Citizens JMP reducing its target to $21 from $29 while maintaining an "Outperform" rating [16]. - Truist Securities lowered its target to $14 from $25 but retained a "Buy" rating, emphasizing the potential for nex-z to move forward despite the recent tragedy [16]. - Overall, Wall Street's consensus rating for NTLA stock is "Moderate Buy," with a potential upside of 132% from current levels [19]. Future Outlook - Intellia has $669.9 million in cash and marketable securities, providing funding through mid-2027, allowing the company to regroup and refocus [13]. - The future of Intellia's other late-stage therapy, lonvoguran ziclumeran, remains uncertain, with pivotal data expected by mid-2026 [12]. - Analysts project a gradual narrowing of losses, with expectations of a 19% annual reduction this year and a further 10% improvement in 2026 [14].

Summary of Prime Medicine Conference Call on Wilson Disease Company Overview - **Company**: Prime Medicine - **Focus**: Development of prime editing technology for genetic diseases, specifically targeting Wilson disease and other liver-related conditions [3][6][11] Industry Context - **Disease**: Wilson disease, a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene, leading to copper accumulation in the body [21][24] - **Current Treatments**: Existing therapies include chronic chelation therapy and dietary restrictions, which are burdensome and often ineffective [30][37] Key Points and Arguments 1. **Strategic Focus**: Prime Medicine is concentrating on Wilson disease due to its high unmet medical need and the absence of curative therapies [8][10] 2. **Prime Editing Technology**: This next-generation gene editing technology allows precise and permanent correction of genetic mutations, offering the potential for durable cures [11][12][38] 3. **Preclinical Data**: Recent preclinical studies demonstrate that prime editing can revert Wilson disease to a normal phenotype, showcasing the technology's transformative potential [9][40][46] 4. **Market Opportunity**: The global market for Wilson disease treatments is estimated to exceed $20 billion, with potential to reach $40 billion, given the prevalence of the disease in the U.S., Europe, and Japan [20][21] 5. **Patient Population**: Approximately 25,000 patients in the U.S., Europe, and Japan are considered addressable for prime editing therapies, with a focus on the most prevalent mutations (H1069Q and R778L) [18][19] 6. **Clinical Development Plans**: Prime Medicine plans to file an IND for Wilson disease in 2026, with initial human data expected in 2027 [16][48] 7. **Safety and Efficacy**: Preclinical studies indicate a favorable safety profile with no off-target effects and high editing efficiency, achieving over 80% correction in animal models [39][42][41] 8. **Long-term Vision**: The company aims to transition from managing symptoms to providing a one-time curative treatment, fundamentally changing patient care for Wilson disease [37][50] Additional Important Insights - **Challenges in Current Treatments**: Current therapies have significant non-adherence rates (30-50%) and can lead to severe side effects, highlighting the need for a more effective solution [31][78] - **Potential for Broader Applications**: The modular nature of prime editing technology allows for rapid expansion into other liver diseases and genetic disorders, enhancing the company's pipeline [15][54] - **Regulatory Considerations**: The company is preparing for regulatory filings and is focused on establishing safety and efficacy benchmarks for accelerated approval [91][92] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call, emphasizing Prime Medicine's innovative approach to treating Wilson disease and the broader implications for genetic therapies.

Core Insights - Significant investors have adopted a bearish outlook on CRISPR Therapeutics, with 84% of trades being bearish compared to only 7% bullish [1] - The projected price targets for CRISPR Therapeutics range from $30.0 to $70.0 over the past three months [2] - Recent options trading activity indicates a focus on strike prices between $30.0 and $70.0, reflecting investor interest and liquidity [3] Options Activity - In the last 30 days, notable options activity includes a mix of puts and calls, with a total of 13 trades detected [1][4] - The total amount for put trades was $220,010, while call trades amounted to $579,566, indicating a higher investment in calls despite the bearish sentiment [1] - Specific trades include bearish sentiment on calls with strike prices of $60.00, $57.50, and $65.00, with total trade prices ranging from $57.6K to $166.6K [8] Market Position - CRISPR Therapeutics is a gene editing company utilizing Crispr/Cas9 technology to develop therapeutics for genetically defined diseases [9][10] - The company’s first approved drug, Casgevy, targets high unmet medical needs such as sickle-cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia [10] - Analysts have set an average price target of $66.75 for CRISPR Therapeutics, with individual targets ranging from $44 to $93 [11][12] Current Stock Performance - The current trading volume for CRISPR Therapeutics is 1,184,163, with the stock price at $54.37, reflecting a decrease of -0.38% [14] - Current RSI values suggest that the stock is neutral, indicating a balance between overbought and oversold conditions [14]

Core Viewpoint - Precision BioSciences, Inc. has announced an underwritten offering to sell 10,815,000 shares of its common stock along with warrants to purchase up to 5,407,500 additional shares at a combined price of $6.14 [1] Company Summary - The company is a clinical stage gene editing firm utilizing its proprietary ARCUS® platform to develop in vivo gene editing therapies targeting diseases with high unmet needs [1] - The offering includes both common stock and accompanying warrants, indicating a strategy to raise capital for further development [1]