A baby, named KJ, has become the first patient to be treated with a personalized CRISPR therapy to address a severe metabolic disorder. We discuss this story—one of the biggest science/medical stories from ASGCT 2025—and talk about the family and scientists at its center. In other news, laboratory-evolved CRISPR-associated bacterial transposases are being used to insert healthy genes into human cells. On the business front, 10x Genomics settles with Bruker and Vizgen while Illumina sues Element Biosciences for patent infringement. Also, trouble for Prime Medicine as the company pivots its pipeline and downsizes, and after months of speculation about its fate, 23andMe is acquired by Regeneron.
Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:
ASGCT 2025: World’s First Patient Treated with Personalized CRISPR Therapy
By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN, May 15, 2025
EvoCAST Harnesses CRISPR-Linked Bacterial Transposases to Insert Genes Into Human Cells
GEN, May 18, 2025
eePASSIGE Engineers Gene-Sized Edits in Human Cells
GEN, June 10, 2024
Illumina Sues Element Biosciences, Alleging Infringement of Flow Cell, Imaging Patents
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, May 18, 2025
10x Settles Bruker, Vizgen Patent Lawsuits
By Julianna LeMieux, PhD, and Alex Philippidis, GEN, May 18, 2025
Prime Medicine Chops 25% of Workforce, Pivots Pipeline as CEO Quits
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, May 19, 2025
Regeneron to Acquire 23andMe with Winning $256M Bid
GEN, May 19, 2025
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