Backed by Celgene, This 12-Employee Bay Area Startup Puts CRISPR Gene-Editing Technology to Work

No matter how well viruses are beaten back by modern-day medicines, tiny pools remain that can reemerge. Consider startup Agenovir Corp. the lifeguard that forces everyone out of the pool.

At least that's what the South San Francisco company aspires to do, using the highly touted, DNA-snipping CRISPR-Cas9 technology to create topical treatments targeting immune system-weakening cytomegalovirus, cervical cancer-causing human papillomavirus and other viral infections.

The company — the latest in a line of ventures from the lab of Stanford University professor Stephen Quake, co-president of the Chan Zuckerbug Biohub — this spring lined up $10.6 million in funding from Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ: CELG), Lightspeed Venture Partners, venture capital firm Data Collective and other investors.
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