New York, Feb 27, 2026, 06:10 ET — Premarket
- CRISPR Therapeutics slipped roughly 2% in premarket trading, pulling back after Thursday’s almost 12% rally.
- The Fly noted that Betaville’s M&A blog once again raised speculation about a possible takeover.
- Next up: management is set to appear at investor conferences kicking off March 2
CRISPR Therapeutics AG slipped 1.9% to $60.55 before the bell Friday, pulling back after an 11.85% surge in the previous session that saw the stock finish at $61.74, fueled by renewed takeover rumors.
The swing hits hard: CRISPR stands out as one of the rare gene-editing names with an approved product actually selling. Just a whiff of a buyout headline can quickly shift focus, pulling eyes from the drawn-out grind of building demand, launching sites, and converting science to regular revenue.
The timing is less than ideal for traders. CRISPR is now serving as a stand-in for the entire first crop of CRISPR/Cas9 drugs, testing if they can navigate real-world hurdles—not just those captured in clinical slides.
The Fly pointed out that fresh chatter about CRISPR resurfaced in Ben Harrington’s Betaville blog—a spot known for picking up on this kind of speculation in the past.
Betaville bills itself as a deals-focused outlet run by Harrington.
CRISPR reported in its Feb. 12 business update that Casgevy, the company’s first therapy to win approval, brought in $54 million in revenue for the fourth quarter, with total full-year 2025 revenue at $116 million. By the end of 2025, CRISPR held $1.98 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. “Steady progress across a broad and increasingly mature pipeline,” chief executive Samarth Kulkarni said. Securities and Exchange Commission
Casgevy’s an ex vivo therapy: physicians harvest stem cells from the patient, use CRISPR/Cas9 to edit those cells in the lab, and then reinfuse them. According to CRISPR, its updated agreement with partner Vertex puts Vertex in charge of global development, manufacturing, and commercialization. The two firms are splitting costs and profits 60/40.
The stock jumped Thursday, climbing closer to the upper half of its 52-week range after a rocky opening stretch this year. Trading volume topped recent averages, according to data.
Still, takeover talk alone doesn’t guarantee a deal. Without an actual buyer, or if the rumors just make the rounds again, shares often drift back to trading on basics. For CRISPR, that comes down to how fast Casgevy gains traction and if the pipeline’s next candidates show sustained, convincing results.
Traders are eyeing the early pullback heading into the U.S. open, looking to see if it sticks or if more information surfaces. CRISPR’s upcoming spot at TD Cowen’s health care conference on March 2 is on next week’s radar, followed by another at Leerink March 11.
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