Recently found $DTIL, a genomics company that owns a proprietary platform for gene editing called ARCUS. Compared to CRISPR, it is supposedly easier to deliver and safer for patients - a thread below

I’d like to preface this by saying I have absolutely no experience in the genomics space but I’ll do my best to explain the concepts throughout this post

Let’s start off with an explanation of what genomics is. Simply put, it is the study of the human genome (people’s genes). The space has seen an insane rate of innovation that all started with the completion of the human genome project in 2003

More recently, and in the past decade, gene editing has developed into a group of technologies that give scientists the ability to change an organisms DNA. These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome

Most notably, CRISPR is a gene editing technology that has recently come to the forefront of gene editing due to its simplicity and efficiency

Currently companies like Cripsr Therapeautics ($CRSP), Editas ($EDIT), and Intellia Therapeuatics ($NTLA) have commercialized the tech and are running clinical trials in order to find cures for chronic diseases. Last year the the technology won the Nobel prize in chemistry

So where exactly does Precision Biosciences come in? Well, they have their own proprietary platform, free of patents and licenses, that allows gene editing called ARCUS

There is not much information out there publicly due to the proprietary nature of the tech, but the idea seems similar. It uses a different enzyme called I-Crel to splice genes and bc of its properties, it allows more precise cuts which means it less error prone than CRISPR

According to their website, their advantage is that they have a built in safety switch that reduces the risk of additional, off target DNA edits, a significant limitation in other gene editing technologies such as CRISPR. It is also smaller making it more precise

Currently they have 50 US and foreign patents for ARCUS. It is also designed for therapeutic grade editing, which basically means that it has been designed for commercial use

In addition to all this, gene editing doesn't need to only be used in therapeutics, it also can have huge applications in the future not limited to medicine, but in agriculture and the environment as well

Think higher yield, less maintained crops, livestock. Plants/bacteria/organisms that are engineered to solve some environment issues like plastic waste, CO2, or climate change. THIS IS HUGE!

For this, they have a subsidiary called Elo Life Systems that focuses on enhancing the nutrition and diversity of the global food supply

They partners with stakeholders in the food systems value chain to bridge gaps and meet needs across agricultural productivity, nutritional demand, food security, climate-resilience, and human wellness

Elo recently announced a strategic partnership with Dole Food company to help with saving the Cavendish banana. This is one example of many potential partnerships that we could see in the future

Y’all the potential here is off the charts if I’m understanding this correctly… but let’s get back to Precision Biosciences. They have strategic partnerships with high profile companies like Eli Lilly, although the contract is small

Apart from all of this, they have their own manufacturing facility located in North Carolina. This means that the process is in house which means they are vertically integrated, which is always a plus

Alright, that was a lot of (exciting) information. Let’s finish off by taking a look at the company financials

- Their market cap is valued at 550M which is low compared to CRISPR companies that are relatively richly valued ( $CRSP is at 14.5B market cap, $EDIT is at 5B )
- ~$105M cash on hand (a little concerning)
- Rev increased from $4.9 mil to $7.4 YoY

Financials in the genomics space are inherently skewed because if they can exponentially scale and commercialize the ARGUS platform this could easily grow to be multi billion dollar company

All in all, Precision Biosciences is an early high risk but extremely compelling play in the gene editing space. ARCUS allows for gene editing that is easier to deliver into patients and safer than other existing technologies

With their subsidairy, Elo Life Systems, they have use cases not only in therapeautics, but also agriculture and environment as well. Low market cap compared to peers in the space and have contracts with high profile companies like Eli Lilly

Curious to hear y'alls thoughts -

@Zen_Options
@AnthonyOhayon
@deadnsyde

A little more on the thread - $DTIL is a genomics company that has developed ARCUS, a proprietary gene editing platform that is easier to deliver and safer for patients than CRISPR