Vertex is attempting to ride those CRISPR waves and has been making several deals. The company handed down a hefty $900 million upfront payment to CRISPR Therapeutics in April and signed up for a $1.2 billion pact with Arbor Biotechnologies in August. Arbor's CRISPR gene editing technology will be used to develop ex vivo cell therapies, and the CRISPR Therapeutics deal is focused on a gene editing therapy that emerged from their original 2015 research agreement. Mammoth and Vertex will focus on in vivo gene editing as part of their collaboration with the hopes of producing treatments for two undisclosed genetic diseases. Vertex's CRISPR tie-ups with Arbor and CRISPR Therapeutics revolve around type 1 diabetes and the blood diseases sickle cell and beta thalassemia. Outside of CRISPR, Vertex has multiple drugs approved for cystic fibrosis and has been looking to diversify. Nell is familiar with CRISPR Therapeutics.