NEW YORK, Jan 24, 2026, 05:05 EST — Market closed
CRISPR Therapeutics AG shares dropped 8.7% on Friday, ending the day at $55.52. The stock moved sharply between $61.01 and $55.07 during a choppy session that saw roughly 2.4 million shares change hands.
This shift is significant since CRSP is acting like a story stock despite having a tangible product available, leaving little room for uncertainty. When trading turns volatile, even minor headlines—or their absence—can pack a bigger punch than normal.
It comes at a time when investors are scrambling to separate signal from noise before the next catalyst window. A sector pullback could push things further, with gene-editing stocks often moving in tandem when risk appetite wanes.
A filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Jan. 22 revealed CEO Samarth Kulkarni sold 90,000 common shares across three trades on Jan. 20 and Jan. 22. The weighted average prices were $51.61, $52.10, and $60.23. According to the filing, these sales took place under a Rule 10b5-1 plan — a prearranged trading strategy allowing insiders to sell shares on a set schedule — which Kulkarni adopted on Aug. 27, 2025. After the transactions, he still directly held 134,201 shares. (SEC)
Bank of America’s Alec Stranahan lowered his price target on CRISPR Therapeutics to $89 from $90 but maintained a Buy rating. He told clients the firm has modestly cut its 2026 projections for Casgevy, though it still anticipates “continued sequential growth in 2026.” (TipRanks)
CRISPR, headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, shares Casgevy economics with Vertex, which takes the lead on global development, manufacturing, and commercialization, the company said. Casgevy pulled in over $100 million in revenue in 2025, driven by more than 60 patient infusions. CRISPR also reported starting 2026 with roughly $2 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. Vertex plans to file for regulatory approval for use in children aged 5 to 11 during the first half of 2026. (GlobeNewswire)
The decline wasn’t limited to one stock. Intellia Therapeutics dropped 8.1% on Friday, Beam Therapeutics slid 7.9%, and Editas Medicine fell 9.5%. The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF also took a hit, down 2.6%, though Vertex managed to close a bit higher.
U.S. markets are closed for the weekend, putting the spotlight on CRSP’s performance when trading kicks off again Monday, Jan. 26. Traders will be keyed in on whether Friday’s sell-off continues or if the stock bounces back swiftly amid renewed biotech volatility.
Insider sales often grab headlines, even when planned. The bigger risk, though, is simpler: if Casgevy’s rollout remains slow or patchy across treatment centres, the stock could drift lower as the company pours money into its deep pipeline.
CRISPR’s upcoming quarterly report is the next major milestone. According to Investing.com’s earnings calendar, the company is set to release results on Feb. 17. (Investing)
