Benjamin Oakes, Ph.D., is the co-founder and CEO of Scribe Therapeutics, a next-generation genetic medicines company unlocking the potential of CRISPR to transform human health. A scientist-entrepreneur who leads with purpose from the lab bench to the boardroom, Oakes co-founded Scribe with Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna to build a future of medicine that is preventative, liberating and universal.
Under Oakes’ leadership, Scribe has built two validated genetic medicine platforms to develop new therapeutic solutions to solve cardiovascular disease, the world’s leading cause of death. The company has also secured $120 million in financing from top-tier investors and forged pharmaceutical partnerships exceeding $1 billion with industry leaders, including Eli Lilly and Sanofi. These achievements have positioned Scribe at the forefront of genetic medicine innovation.
Scribe’s lead candidates showcase the transformative potential of its platform: STX-1150, an epigenetic editor, demonstrates greater than 50% low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction sustained for over nine months, while STX-1200, a gene editor, achieves greater than 90% knockdown for lipoprotein (a) lowering. Together, these therapies aim to eclipse current standards of care and unlock treatment for millions of patients with cardiometabolic disease.
With more than 35 publications and patent applications spanning molecular engineering, CRISPR technologies and genome editing, Oakes has translated cutting-edge science into therapies with the power to change lives. Through his bold vision, scientific rigor and patient-first approach to innovation, he is shaping the next generation of genetic medicines and redefining what is possible for human health.