5 Gene Editing Stocks With the Best Long-Term Potential

1. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) has been working on a key gene editing treatment in partnership with CRISPR. Recently, a US drug pricing group said that the Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) and CRISPR Therapeutics AG’s (CRSP.BN) one-dose gene editing therapy for sickle cell disease would be cost effective if priced at up to $1.9 million.

Earlier this month, the two companies completed a rolling submission of a Biologics License Application to the US FDA for exagamglogene autotemcel (exa-cel) for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia.

Hedge fund sentiment for the stock saw a boost in the fourth quarter, as 60 hedge funds ended the period with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) shares in their portfolios, up from 49 hedge funds at the end of the third quarter.

Artisan Partners made the following comment about Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) in its Q3 2022 investor letter:

“Biotechnology company Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) dominates the market for treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) with limited competition. In addition to solid growth in CF revenues that has driven better-than-expected results, positive progress in its development pipeline has lifted shares. At the time of our Q2 2021 purchase, the stock was under pressure due to regulatory hurdles and Vertex’s decision not to pursue late-stage development of VX-864 after an unexpectedly unfavorable outcome. VX-864 is designed to treat alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), which is an inherited disorder with a strong correlation to pediatric liver disease. Irrespective of Vertex’s AATD pipeline, the company has nearly two decades of patent protection remaining for its CF franchise. Management maintains a healthy reserve of cash and is focusing on research and development. We believe near-term growth is likely to be driven by Vertex’s expanding geographic presence and expansion of medicines to lower age groups, with long-term gains arising from the company’s diversifying pipeline.”

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