New Genetic Tools May Offer Profits, but Need Public Attention
July 26, 2023
A new company is pushing to reformulate the gene-editing tool CRISPR in hope of tackling a range of hard-to-treat diseases, and investors are eyeing a potential multibillion-dollar market, Forbes magazine reports. In an Issues interview, Jennifer Doudna, who shared a Nobel Prize for her role in developing the foundational technology—and is also a cofounder of the company—cautions that commercialization must proceed carefully, with input from scientists, policymakers, and the public alike. The technology’s long-term success, she says, can be ensured only “by applying it responsibly and allowing it to be fairly assessed by those in need.”