Aurora Therapeutics abandons flagship CRISPR program and cuts staff after launch
Aurora Therapeutics has halted its primary gene-editing project and reduced its workforce just seven months after the company began operations.
The biotech startup announced the termination of its lead custom CRISPR therapy and a downsizing of its team, though it did not disclose the exact number of layoffs. A company spokesperson also declined to confirm whether any members of the three-person leadership team remain. Earlier this year, Aurora’s chief scientific officer departed, and competition from the larger Beam Therapeutics, which launched a similar custom editor a month after Aurora’s debut, appears to have contributed to the setback.
Why it matters
The collapse highlights the difficulty for small biotech firms to compete in the fast-moving gene-editing market.
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