For decades, medicine has focused primarily on disease management. Patients with genetic disorders often required lifelong therapy, controlling symptoms but rarely addressing the underlying cause. Genome editing is now transforming that paradigm. CRISPR technology enables precise modification of DNA within human cells, allowing scientists to correct defective genes at their source rather than merely compensating for them. What once seemed like theoretical molecular biology has evolved into a clinically validated therapeutic platform.

For pharmacy and biotechnology professionals, CRISPR is no longer an emerging concept. It is a disruptive force reshaping drug discovery, clinical development, manufacturing strategy
and value-based reimbursement models. Its impact extends well beyond rare genetic diseases, signalling a structural shift in how medicines are designed and delivered.

Understanding CRISPR:
From Bacterial Immunity to Programmable Editing
CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) was first identified as part of a bacterial adaptive immune system. Bacteria use CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins to recognise and cleave viral DNA.