ZUG, Switzerland and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and BOSTON, Jan. 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CRISPR
Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation for CTX001 for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). CTX001 is an
investigational, autologous, gene-edited hematopoietic stem cell therapy for patients suffering from severe hemoglobinopathies.
The FDA’s Fast Track program is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat
serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. A drug granted Fast Track Designation may be eligible for several
benefits, including more frequent meetings and communications with the FDA and, if relevant criteria are met, the potential for
Accelerated Approval, Priority Review or Rolling Review of a Biologics License Application (BLA).
In October 2018, CRISPR and Vertex announced the FDA acceptance of the Investigational New Drug application
(IND) for CTX001 for the treatment of SCD, and enrollment in a Phase 1/2 trial in SCD is currently underway in the U.S. The
companies are also evaluating CTX001 for the treatment of ?-thalassemia, and enrollment in a Phase 1/2 trial in ?-thalassemia is
currently open at multiple clinical trial sites in Europe.
About CTX001
CTX001 is an investigational ex vivo CRISPR gene-edited therapy for patients suffering from ?-thalassemia or
sickle cell disease in which a patient’s hematopoietic stem cells are engineered to produce high levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF;
hemoglobin F) in red blood cells. HbF is a form of the oxygen carrying hemoglobin that is naturally present at birth and is then
replaced by the adult form of hemoglobin. The elevation of HbF by CTX001 has the potential to alleviate transfusion-requirements
for ?-thalassemia patients and painful and debilitating sickle crises for sickle cell patients.
CTX001 is being developed under a co-development and co-commercialization agreement between CRISPR Therapeutics
and Vertex.
About the CRISPR-Vertex Collaboration
CRISPR and Vertex entered into a strategic research collaboration in 2015 aimed at the discovery and development of gene editing
treatments using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to correct defects in specific gene targets known to cause or contribute to particular
diseases. Vertex has exclusive rights to license up to six new CRISPR/Cas9-based treatments that emerge from the collaboration, and
CTX001 represents the first treatment to emerge from the joint research program. For CTX001, CRISPR and Vertex will equally share
all research and development costs and profits worldwide.
About CRISPR Therapeutics
CRISPR Therapeutics is a leading gene editing company focused on developing transformative gene-based medicines for serious
diseases using its proprietary CRISPR/Cas9 platform. CRISPR/Cas9 is a revolutionary gene editing technology that allows for
precise, directed changes to genomic DNA. CRISPR Therapeutics has established a portfolio of therapeutic programs across
a broad range of disease areas including hemoglobinopathies, oncology, regenerative medicine and rare diseases. To accelerate and
expand its efforts, CRISPR Therapeutics has established strategic collaborations with leading companies
including Bayer AG, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and ViaCyte, Inc. CRISPR Therapeutics AG is headquartered in
Zug, Switzerland, with its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, CRISPR Therapeutics, Inc., and R&D operations based
in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and business offices in London, United Kingdom. For more information, please
visit www.crisprtx.com.
CRISPR Forward-Looking Statement
This press release may contain a number of “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding CRISPR Therapeutics’ expectations about any or all of the
following: (i) clinical trials (including, without limitation, the timing of filing of clinical trial applications and INDs,
any approvals thereof and the timing of commencement of clinical trials), development timelines and discussions with regulatory
authorities related to product candidates under development by CRISPR Therapeutics and its collaborators; (ii) the number
of patients that will be evaluated, the anticipated date by which enrollment will be completed and the data that will be generated
by ongoing and planned clinical trials, and the ability to use that data for the design and initiation of further clinical trials;
(iii) the scope and timing of ongoing and potential future clinical trials; (iv) the intellectual property coverage and positions
of CRISPR Therapeutics, its licensors and third parties; (v) the sufficiency of CRISPR Therapeutics’ cash resources; and (vi)
the therapeutic value, development, and commercial potential of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technologies and therapies. Without
limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects” and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. You are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Although CRISPR
Therapeutics believes that such statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its
business and operations, forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and they are necessarily subject to a high
degree of uncertainty and risk. Actual performance and results may differ materially from those projected or suggested in the
forward-looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the
outcomes for each CRISPR Therapeutics’ planned clinical trials and studies may not be favorable; that one or more of CRISPR
Therapeutics’ internal or external product candidate programs will not proceed as planned for technical, scientific or commercial
reasons; that future competitive or other market factors may adversely affect the commercial potential for CRISPR Therapeutics’
product candidates; uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of preclinical studies for CRISPR Therapeutics’ product
candidates; availability and timing of results from preclinical studies; whether results from a preclinical trial will be
predictive of future results of the future trials; uncertainties about regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market
products; uncertainties regarding the intellectual property protection for CRISPR Therapeutics’ technology and intellectual
property belonging to third parties; and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in CRISPR
Therapeutics’ most recent annual report on Form 10-K, and in any other subsequent filings made by CRISPR
Therapeutics with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the SEC's website
at www.sec.gov. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. CRISPR
Therapeutics disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this
press release, other than to the extent required by law.
About Vertex
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with
serious and life-threatening diseases. In addition to clinical development programs in CF, Vertex has more than a dozen ongoing
research programs focused on the underlying mechanisms of other serious diseases.
Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, Mass., Vertex's headquarters is now located in Boston's Innovation
District. Today, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in the United
States, Europe, Canada, Australia and Latin America. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the
industry's top places to work, including being named to Science magazine's Top Employers in the life sciences ranking for
nine years in a row. For additional information and the latest updates from the company, please visit www.vrtx.com.
For additional information and the latest updates from the Company, please visit www.vrtx.com.
(VRTX-GEN)
Vertex Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including, without limitation, statements regarding the potential benefits of Fast Track Designation and the ongoing clinical
trials for CTX001. While Vertex believes the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are accurate, there are a
number of factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to developing drug candidates and the other
risks listed under Risk Factors in Vertex's annual report and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Vertex disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in this press release as new information becomes
available.
CRISPR Investor Contact:
Susan Kim
susan.kim@crisprtx.com
CRISPR Media Contact:
Jennifer Paganelli
WCG on behalf of CRISPR
347-658-8290
jpaganelli@wcgworld.com
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Investors:
Michael Partridge, +1 617-341-6108
or
Eric Rojas, +1 617-961-7205
or
Zach Barber, +1 617-341-6470
Media:
Sarah D'Souza, +1-617-341-6341
mediainfo@vrtx.com
