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Editas prices USD 319m offering as EDIT-401 gene therapy for hyperlipidemia progresses

Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Editas Medicine (Nasdaq: EDIT) has announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of common stock and accompanying warrants, structured to raise up to USD 319.4 million in total gross proceeds, as the company advances its in vivo gene editing pipeline — most immediately EDIT-401, an experimental hyperlipidemia program for which new preclinical data were disclosed on the same day as the offering pricing.

The offering comprises 55,555,556 shares of common stock, each accompanied by a common stock warrant to purchase one additional share, priced at a combined USD 2.25 per unit. Pre-funded warrants are available in lieu of common stock for investors who would otherwise exceed beneficial ownership thresholds. Base gross proceeds, assuming no warrant exercise, are expected to reach approximately USD 125 million. Each warrant carries an exercise price of USD 3.50 per share and is exercisable immediately. The warrants expire on the earlier of 30 days following Editas's first public announcement of Phase I clinical data for EDIT-401 showing at least three patients with greater than 80% LDL-cholesterol reduction from baseline with at least one month of follow-up, or three years from issuance. Full exercise of all warrants would generate an additional approximately USD 194.4 million, bringing total potential gross proceeds to approximately USD 319.4 million. The offering was expected to close on or about May 27, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Cantor and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers.

Company overview and pipeline

Editas is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based gene editing company focused on developing in vivo medicines using CRISPR-based systems. The company holds exclusive licenses to the Broad Institute's Cas12a patent estate and to Broad Institute and Harvard University's Cas9 patent estates for human medicines applications.

The current financing is timed alongside active preclinical advancement of EDIT-401, Editas's in vivo editing candidate targeting hyperlipidemia through LDL-cholesterol reduction.

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In the clinical stage, Editas's most advanced asset remains EDIT-301, an ex vivo autologous gene-edited hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell therapy being evaluated in Phase I/II trials for severe sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia, both of which are active but no longer recruiting. A long-term follow-up study for EDIT-301-treated patients is enrolling by invitation. EDIT-101, targeting CEP290-related retinal degeneration in Leber congenital amaurosis type 10, is also in Phase I/II with an active, not recruiting status.

On the business development side, Editas has executed several transactions to extend its cash runway. In October 2024, the company received USD 57 million upfront from DRI Healthcare Trust through a royalty monetization arrangement covering future annual license fees payable by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, which had entered a non-exclusive CRISPR licensing agreement with Editas in December 2023 carrying annual fees ranging from USD 5 million to USD 40 million. In May 2024, Editas extended its research collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb on alpha-beta T cell medicines through 2026, with options for further extensions to 2028, and an IND acceptance milestone for a CD19 allogeneic CAR T program was triggered under that agreement. An ongoing collaboration with Immatics covers gamma-delta T cell medicine development. The company has previously indicated that existing cash resources, inclusive of retained Vertex payments, were expected to fund operations into Q3 2027, a runway the current offering is structured to extend.


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