Scribe Therapeutics

Scribe Therapeutics is a gene editing biotechnology company that develops in vivo (gene editing done inside the body) genetic medicines, leveraging the CRISPR technology, for a variety of therapeutic areas including neurological and ophthalmological diseases. The company differentiates itself from other gene editing companies by developing its own molecules instead of using commonly used, naturally-occurring enzymes such as Cas9. The company also intended to apply its technology to develop ex vivo therapies (gene editing done in a specialized laboratory and returned to the body) in collaboration with other drug developers and pharma companies. 

Its “CRISPR by design” platform creates millions of novel molecules for therapeutic applications, which includes its X-editing (XE) molecule—an engineered version of a protein called CasX—that reportedly has greater activity, specificity, and deliverability.

Key customers and partnerships

Scribe Therapeutics and Sanofi extended their existing research partnership in January 2024, initially entered in September 2022, by exercising the option for a second target based on in vivo CRISPR treatments. As part of the agreement, Scribe would receive payments for reaching pre-established milestones and even further rewards based on the program's development and commercial success.

In May 2023, Scribe Therapeutics announced a collaboration with Prevail , a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly, to accelerate in vivo CRISPR-based genetic medicines for neurological and neuromuscular diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Scribe received USD 75 million consisting of an upfront payment and equity investment in the form of a convertible note, and is eligible to receive more than USD 1.5 billion in development and commercial milestone payments.

The company partnered with American biotechnology company Biogen in 2020 to develop therapeutics for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) by leveraging Scribe’s technology. It extended the partnership in May 2022 to add another target for ALS.

Funding and financials  

Founded in 2017, Scribe raised USD 100 million in a Series B funding round in March 2021, which brought the total funds raised by the company to USD 120 million. The company intended to use the funds to advance its internal pipeline and further develop its technologies.