A Q&A with the CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics on a historic approval and the road ahead

Editas Medicine, CRISPR Therapeutics, and Intellia Therapeutics were all started in the 2013-2014 time frame with the same goal of turning the nascent CRISPR gene-editing technology into medicines. With the approval of Casgevy, the world’s first gene-edited therapy and a potential cure for sickle cell disease, CRISPR Therapeutics won the race.

Samarth “Sam” Kulkarni has been there from almost the beginning. The former McKinsey partner joined CRISPR Therapeutics in 2015 as its chief business officer. In 2017, he was elevated to CEO.

STAT spoke to Kulkarni about how the company reached this point, and where the field of CRISPR-based medicine is going. A transcript of the conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

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