CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Editas Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq: EDIT), a clinical-stage gene editing company, today announced that three abstracts have been accepted for presentation, including one oral presentation, at the 27^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) being held May 7 – 11, 2024, in Baltimore, MD, and virtually. The Company is presenting pre-clinical data to support its development of transformative in vivo gene editing medicines.  

Editas Medicine presentations at ASGCT include:

• Oral presentation of in vivo pre-clinical data from mouse studies using lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mediated delivery of an optimized guide RNA (gRNA) and engineered AsCas12a messenger RNA (mRNA).
• Pre-clinical data demonstrating AsCas12a gRNA modifications that enable high-potency gene editing in multiple cell types and improve gene editing outcomes in vivo, enabling the development of in vivo gene editing medicines.
• Research on identifying potent large serine recombinases (LSRs) as a foundation to develop novel in vivo gene editing technologies for whole gene knock-in, expanding potential in vivo gene editing targets for developing medicines.

“Editas Medicine is making strong progress towards the clinic with our technology optimization to develop transformative in vivo medicines for people living with serious diseases,” said Linda C. Burkly, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Editas Medicine. “We look forward to sharing compelling data at ASGCT next month, including data demonstrating the delivery of AsCas12a mRNA using LNPs in vivo and guide RNA modifications to increase potency. These in vivo data are an important step towards confirming in vivo proof of concept by the end of the year.”

The complete list of Editas Medicine presentations is below. Abstracts can be accessed on the ASGCT website, and the presentations will be posted on the Editas Medicine website during the conference.

Oral Presentation:
Title: LNP-Based Delivery of CRISPR/Cas12a for the Potential Treatment of Myocilin-Associated Glaucoma
Session Date and Time: Friday, May 10, 2024, 3:45 – 5:30 p.m. ET
Presentation Time: 4:00 - 4:15 p.m.
Session title: Advancements in Technologies for In Vivo Gene Therapies 
Room: Room 324-326 
Final Abstract Number: 276

Poster Presentations:
Title: Chemically Modified AsCas12a Guide RNAs Improve Lipid Nanoparticle-Mediated In Vivo Gene Editing in Different Tissues
Session Date and Time: Thursday, May 9, 2024, 12:00 p.m. ET
Session Title: Thursday Posters: Gene Disruption and Excision
Presentation Room: Exhibit Hall
Final Abstract Number: 1182

Title: Metagenomic Discovery and Screening of Novel Recombinase Proteins for Targeted Integration
Session Date and Time: Friday, May 10, 2024, 12:00 p.m. ET
Session Title: Friday Posters: Targeted Gene Insertion 
Presentation Room: Exhibit Hall
Final Abstract Number: 1681

About Editas Medicine

As a clinical-stage gene editing company, Editas Medicine is focused on translating the power and potential of the CRISPR/Cas12a and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing systems into a robust pipeline of treatments for people living with serious diseases around the world. Editas Medicine aims to discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialize transformative, durable, precision genomic medicines for a broad class of diseases. Editas Medicine is the exclusive licensee of Broad Institute’s Cas12a patent estate and Broad Institute and Harvard University’s Cas9 patent estates for human medicines. For the latest information and scientific presentations, please visit www.editasmedicine.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘believe,’’ ‘‘continue,’’ ‘‘could,’’ ‘‘estimate,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ ‘‘intend,’’ ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘plan,’’ ‘‘potential,’’ ‘‘predict,’’ ‘‘project,’’ ‘‘target,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘would,’’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Company’s preclinical studies and its research and development programs, and the timing for the Company’s receipt and presentation of data from its preclinical studies, including confirming in vivo proof-of-concept by the end of 2024. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of pre-clinical studies and availability and timing of results from pre-clinical studies. These and other risks are described in greater detail under the caption “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated by the Company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.