Spotlight: 1 Gene Editing Stock Set To Skyrocket
Cathie Wood has been investing heavily in Verve Therapeutics (VERV), a company developing therapies for cardiovascular diseases. So what’s all the fuss about? We took a deeper dive to find out.
What Makes Verve So Special?
Verve Therapeutics is a pioneer in the field of gene editing. The company’s flagship product, VERVE-101, is designed to permanently lower LDL cholesterol (known as “bad” cholesterol) in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), a genetic disorder that is believed to result in high cholesterol levels. These in turn have the potential to heighten the risks of heart attacks and strokes.
Why Is Cathie Wood Buying Verve?
Wood’s investment in Verve Therapeutics is a sign of her confidence in the company’s technology and its potential to revolutionize the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. If successful, VERVE-101 could offer a new and more effective way to treat HeFH and other genetic disorders that cause high cholesterol levels.
VERVE-101 has demonstrated promising results in preclinical studies. In primates, the gene editing therapy achieved an average reduction of 69% in LDL cholesterol levels. VERVE-101 is currently in a phase 1 clinical trial called the heart-1 study, which is evaluating the safety and efficacy of the therapy in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
If successful, VERVE-101 could be the first gene-editing therapy approved for cardiovascular diseases. This would be a major breakthrough because gene editing has the potential to permanently alter genes and potentially cure diseases.
The Future For Verve Is Bright
Verve’s base-editing approach to cardiovascular disease has resulted in interest from pharma giant, Eli Lilly. The two firms plan to treat cardiovascular disease by targeting lipoprotein(a) via base editing. In the past, Verve received an upfront payment and equity investment totaling $60 million from Lilly to achieve its aims.
The future data from VERVE-101 will signify a major event because it will provide insights into the therapy’s safety profile and a preliminary look at its efficacy in the treatment of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).
Cardiovascular disease is a large and growing market, and there is a clear need for new and effective treatments. The company has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, but there is no guarantee of success so dipping a toe in the water may better than a full plunge at this time.
