Verve Therapeutics: Taking DNA Editing to Heart

Verve Therapeutics, a public biotech company based in Boston, created a novel approach to addressing cardiovascular disease (CVD) - a leading cause of deaths globally. The company's approach was a single shot treatment to permanently lower cholesterol, thus reducing the risk of heart attacks. Built on decades of post-doctoral and lab research led by CEO Sekar (Sek) Kathiresan, a trained cardiologist and academic, Verve used gene editing – akin to a molecular surgical procedure—for a curative intent. Not only had the medicine reached human trials in record time, but Verve incorporated new innovations that could allow the technology to be used more widely. The company successfully built a solid syndicate of investors and raised a total of $860 million. Unlike other gene editing or gene therapy companies that focused on rare diseases affecting small populations, Verve’s approach was the first example of a gene editing treatment that could potentially benefit millions of people.
Verve’s lead investor was interested in creating Verve 2.0 and apply the company’s expertise to cure a range of rare metabolic diseases. Should Sek continue to build out the core product aimed at treating heart disease, or should he apply the technology to other adjacent diseases? Would this be a potential distraction from Verve’s core mission?