Your medicine cabinet might look very different in five years. Scribe Therapeutics announced that STX-1150, a one-time CRISPR-based therapy, will enter human trials mid-2026 with the potential to replace daily cholesterol medications for 70 million Americans living with elevated levels.
Unlike traditional gene editing that permanently alters DNA, STX-1150 uses epigenetic silencing—think of it as installing a molecular dimmer switch rather than cutting the wire. The therapy targets the PCSK9 gene in liver cells, adding methylation marks that turn off cholesterol production without permanent genetic changes. This reversibility addresses the biggest safety concern about genetic medical technology while potentially delivering lasting results.
Preclinical studies in primates delivered impressive results: a single low dose reduced LDL cholesterol by more than 50% for at least 18 months. Compare that to current options like Repatha injections every two weeks or Leqvio shots twice yearly.
“Entering the clinic with STX-1150 represents a defining moment for Scribe and the wider genetic medicine field,” said Dr. Benjamin Oakes, the company’s CEO and co-founder. This breakthrough builds on the regulatory pathway established by Casgevy, the first approved CRISPR therapy for sickle cell disease in 2024.
The accessibility question looms large, though. Following Casgevy’s $2.2 million price tag, STX-1150 will likely carry substantial costs that could limit real-world impact despite strong efficacy. Scribe faces competition from Verve Therapeutics and CRISPR Therapeutics, both developing similar approaches, though strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical giants Sanofi and Eli Lilly suggest confidence in the commercial potential.
This represents more than a new treatment—it’s a fundamental shift from managing cardiovascular disease to preventing it. Co-founded by Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, Scribe positions the therapy as delivering “the cardioprotective effects of naturally occurring genetics” through durable CRISPR medicine. If successful, STX-1150 could transform how we approach chronic disease, moving from daily pill regimens that feel like endless subscription services—expensive and easy to forget—to one-time interventions that provide lasting protection.
The Phase 1 trials will determine whether this genetic moonshot becomes tomorrow’s standard of care or remains an expensive promise for the privileged few.
