Base editing successful in monkeys

CRISPR base editing has passed its first substantive test, STAT’s Sharon Begley writes. The tool, which can edit genomes on a letter-by-letter basis, was used to knock out two cholesterol-associated genes in monkeys — and found that LDL and triglyceride levels plummeted 60% and 65%, respectively.

The study comes from Verve Therapeutics — but it also bodes well for Beam Therapeutics, which is also developing CRISPR base editors for a number of different diseases. Verve actually licensed some of Beam’s technology for this experiment, which was carried out in 14 macaques.

“Our goal is to develop a one-and-done genome editing medicine for heart disease,” Verve CEO Sekar Kathiresan told STAT.