CRISPR Therapies, Base Editing and Approvals — 2026-09-12
Intellia Therapeutics' CRISPR therapy for hereditary angioedema has received FDA priority review with a March 2027 decision date, marking a potential first approval for in vivo CRISPR editing. Meanwhile, a Cleveland Clinic trial demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a one-time CRISPR infusion for lowering cholesterol over a one-year period. <!-- /headline --> **Intellia’s CRISPR HAE Therapy Gets FDA Priority Review** <!-- /headline -->
CRISPR Therapies, Base Editing and Approvals — 2026-09-12
Intellia Therapeutics' CRISPR therapy for hereditary angioedema has received FDA priority review with a March 2027 decision date, marking a potential first approval for in vivo CRISPR editing. Meanwhile, a Cleveland Clinic trial demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a one-time CRISPR infusion for lowering cholesterol over a one-year period.
<!-- /headline -->Intellia’s CRISPR HAE Therapy Gets FDA Priority Review
<!-- /headline -->Top developments
Intellia’s Lonvo-Z Granted FDA Priority Review for Hereditary Angioedema
On September 9, 2026, it was reported that the FDA accepted Intellia Therapeutics' Biologics License Application (BLA) for lonvo-z (lonvoguran ziclumeran) and granted it priority review status. The target action date is set for March 10, 2027, with no advisory committee meeting scheduled. This development is critical as lonvo-z aims to be the first approved in vivo CRISPR gene-editing therapy, following positive Phase 3 data that showed the treatment met its primary endpoints in reducing hereditary angioedema attacks.

Cleveland Clinic Trial Confirms One-Year Safety of CRISPR Cholesterol Therapy
A first-in-human clinical trial at Cleveland Clinic, published in early September 2026, showed that a single infusion of a CRISPR-Cas9 based therapy effectively lowered LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in patients with medication-resistant lipid disorders. The study maintained safety and efficacy profiles through one year of follow-up. These results support the viability of in vivo base editing for chronic cardiovascular conditions, potentially paving the way for broader applications beyond rare diseases.

FDA Finalizes Guidance on Leveraging Prior Knowledge for Gene Editing
The FDA recently released final guidance titled "Leveraging Prior Knowledge in the Development of Human Gene Therapy Products Incorporating Genome Editing." This regulatory update, effective in late August/early September 2026, allows developers to use existing safety data from similar genome-editing platforms to streamline clinical trials. This move is expected to accelerate the development of base and prime editing therapies by reducing redundant preclinical safety studies.
Local view
In China, PackGene Biotech highlighted the significance of Intellia's FDA priority review for lonvo-z, noting that if approved, it would represent a global milestone for in vivo CRISPR therapies. The article emphasized the competitive pressure this places on Chinese biotech firms developing similar in vivo editing technologies, such as those targeting transthyretin amyloidosis or hemophilia.
Context & numbers
The current landscape for approved gene therapies remains dominated by ex vivo treatments like Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel), which carries a list price of $2.2 million. However, the upcoming decision on Intellia's lonvo-z will establish the first pricing benchmark for in vivo CRISPR therapies, a category expected to command different payer dynamics due to its single-infusion nature compared to the complex manufacturing of ex vivo CAR-T or stem cell therapies.
On the radar
- March 10, 2027: Target FDA decision date for Intellia's lonvo-z, which could become the first approved in vivo CRISPR therapy.
- Q4 2026: Lilly's VERVE-102 is expected to enter Phase 2 trials, having treated 35 patients in Phase 1, adding another major competitor to the in vivo lipid-lowering space.
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