Vertex Pharmaceuticals Raises Bet on CRISPR Therapeutics

The relationship between Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) and CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) is taking another big step forward. On Tuesday morning, the collaboration partners amended their agreement regarding CTX001 in a way that places more risk on Vertex's shoulders. CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex had already agreed to co-commercialize and co-develop CTX001, an experimental gene therapy for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) or transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT).