Customized CRISPR for KJ, 10x and Illumina Lawsuits, Regeneron Bags 23andMe

A baby, named KJ, has become the first patient to be treated with a personalized CRISPR therapy to address a severe metabolic disorder. We discuss this story—one of the biggest science/medical stories from ASGCT 2025—and talk about the family and scientists at its center. In other news, laboratory-evolved CRISPR-associated bacterial transposases are being used to insert healthy genes into human cells. On the business front, 10x Genomics settles with Bruker and Vizgen while Illumina sues Element Biosciences for patent infringement. Also, trouble for Prime Medicine as the company pivots its pipeline and downsizes, and after months of speculation about its fate, 23andMe is acquired by Regeneron.

Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Alex Philippidis, Fay Lin, PhD, and Uduak Thomas for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news. 

Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base

ASGCT 2025: World’s First Patient Treated with Personalized CRISPR Therapy 

By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN, May 15, 2025 

EvoCAST Harnesses CRISPR-Linked Bacterial Transposases to Insert Genes Into Human Cells 

GEN, May 18, 2025 

eePASSIGE Engineers Gene-Sized Edits in Human Cells 

GEN, June 10, 2024 

Illumina Sues Element Biosciences, Alleging Infringement of Flow Cell, Imaging Patents 

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, May 18, 2025

10x Settles Bruker, Vizgen Patent Lawsuits 

By Julianna LeMieux, PhD, and Alex Philippidis, GEN, May 18, 2025

Prime Medicine Chops 25% of Workforce, Pivots Pipeline as CEO Quits 

By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, May 19, 2025 

Regeneron to Acquire 23andMe with Winning $256M Bid 

GEN, May 19, 2025 

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