A new biotechnology startup, Preventive, is attracting investment from prominent tech executives, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, with the stated goal of eliminating hereditary diseases through genetic engineering of embryos. The company, based in San Francisco, has raised $30 million to pursue controversial research and development in this field.
The venture has drawn attention due to the ethical and legal implications of modifying human embryos. While gene editing technologies have made strides in treating rare genetic disorders, preemptively altering embryos to prevent disease remains illegal in many countries, including the US and UK. Preventive is reportedly considering conducting early-stage tests in the United Arab Emirates, where regulations on embryo editing are more permissive.
Advances in Gene Editing for Rare Diseases
Recent breakthroughs demonstrate the potential of gene editing to address severe genetic conditions. In May, a baby diagnosed with severe CPS1 deficiency—a rare disorder causing toxic ammonia buildup—received a personalized gene-editing therapy. The treatment corrected a genetic error, offering a potential cure where liver transplants are currently the only option.
This case, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, represents a milestone in personalized medicine. Dr. Kiran Musunuru, a gene-editing expert at the University of Pennsylvania, hailed it as “the first step towards the use of gene editing therapies to treat a wide variety of rare genetic disorders.”
Ethical Concerns and Future Applications
Despite these advancements, ethical concerns persist. Critics, including the advocacy group GM Freeze, argue that our understanding of gene functioning remains incomplete, raising questions about the long-term consequences of such interventions.
Beyond preventing diseases, some companies are exploring the possibility of using gene editing to influence traits like intelligence and height, sparking further debate. The potential for misuse and unintended consequences remains a significant concern.
The pursuit of embryo modification raises fundamental questions about the limits of genetic intervention and the ethical responsibilities of scientists and investors in this rapidly evolving field.
While gene editing offers hope for treating devastating diseases, its application to preemptively alter embryos remains a contentious issue with far-reaching implications
