STAT+: Startup promising to scale custom CRISPR therapies abruptly scraps plans

Allison covers what hot startups are getting up to, and who’s financing them. She is also co-host of the weekly biotech podcast, “The Readout Loud.” You can reach Allison on Signal at AllisonDeAngelis.01.Aurora Therapeutics, a startup focused on building personalized gene-editing drugs, has scrapped its lead program and slashed staff, just seven months after it launched, STAT has learned. A company spokesperson declined to say how many employees were laid off, or whether any of the startup’s three-person leadership team would stay on. Aurora’s chief scientific officer left the company this year. The company appears to have been undercut by Beam Therapeutics, a larger and more established competitor. Just a month after Aurora launched, Beam announced it was already advancing its own set of custom gene editors for the exact same disease. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe