Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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Short answer: Synthego is a CRISPR solutions provider that makes its guide RNA in Redwood City, California. Its catalog covers synthetic guide RNA, nucleases, a gene-editing analysis tool and reagents, in research-use and GMP formats. Since 2024 and 2025, ownership and product lines have changed hands twice, so older articles often mix up Synthego, EditCo and Perceptive Advisors.
This page is general information for researchers and lab or clinic staff. It is not medical advice and does not describe any clinical procedure.
What is Synthego?
Synthego describes itself as “a CRISPR solutions provider” supporting work from discovery through clinical trials. Its own company page lists these product groups: research synthetic single guide RNA (sgRNA); GMP guide RNA and GMP gene editors; nucleases (AccuBase base editor, SpCas9, eSpOT-ON and hfCas12Max, supplied as protein or mRNA); the ICE CRISPR Analysis Tool; and molecular biology reagents. Customers in some countries order through local distributors rather than directly (Synthego company page, read 2026-11-07).
Definition and scope
CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing needs two components: a nuclease such as Cas9 and a guide RNA that directs it to a DNA target. Suppliers like Synthego manufacture the guide RNA chemically (synthetic guide RNA) instead of leaving each lab to clone and transcribe it. The same company page also lists base editors and other nucleases, so “Synthego” now refers to a catalog of editing components, not one product. For wider context on how such reagents sit alongside plasmid repositories, see our guide to Addgene, and for the discipline itself, what is molecular biology.
Who owns what: a neutral timeline
Two separate transactions are frequently conflated. They are different companies and different dates.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2024 | EditCo Bio, financed by Telegraph Hill Partners, acquired Synthego’s “engineered cell solutions and enhanced guide RNA business”, becoming an independent company. | EditCo Bio press release via PR Newswire |
| July 18, 2025 (announced July 21) | Funds managed by Perceptive Advisors completed the acquisition of “substantially all” of Synthego’s assets. The Synthego brand was retained and operations continued; guide RNA is made in Redwood City, California. | Synthego press release via BioSpace |
The same Synthego press release reports a GMP SpCas9 launch in May 2025 and the launch of eSpOT-ON and AccuBase in July 2025.
Where each Synthego-related name lives
Searchers often arrive looking for a tool or service they remember under the Synthego name. Based on the sources above:
- Synthego (synthego.com): research synthetic sgRNA, GMP guide RNA and GMP gene editors, nucleases and reagents.
- ICE CRISPR Analysis Tool: Synthego’s company page links it to ice.editco.bio, an EditCo address, so the tool is reached through EditCo’s domain.
- EditCo Bio: the business that acquired the engineered cell solutions and enhanced guide RNA operations in 2024.
Research-use versus GMP catalog tiers
Synthego’s catalog separates research synthetic sgRNA from GMP guide RNA and GMP gene editors. Editorial interpretation: for a lab, the practical meaning is that these are different product lines, and a team working toward clinical use should keep supplier documentation for whichever grade it actually uses. For background on the manufacturing-quality concept, see the dictionary entries for GMP facility and cGMP facility. Grade-specific documentation requirements should come from the supplier and the applicable regulator, not from this page.
Common misunderstandings
- “Synthego and EditCo are the same company.” They were separated by the March 2024 transaction; the ICE tool link is the one place a Synthego page points to EditCo.
- “Synthego sells CRISPR therapies.” Its listed products are research and GMP-grade editing components and tools. The first FDA-approved CRISPR/Cas9 therapy, Casgevy, was approved to Vertex Pharmaceuticals (FDA, December 8, 2023).
- “A change of ownership ends the brand.” The 2025 release states that the Synthego brand was retained and operations continue.
Can CRISPR be used to treat beta-thalassemia?
Yes, in one approved product. On January 16, 2024, the FDA approved Casgevy, a cell-based gene therapy, for patients 12 and older with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia; it had been approved the month before for sickle cell disease. The therapy edits a patient’s blood stem cells using CRISPR/Cas9 and the edited cells are transplanted back (FDA approval materials, Dec 2023 and Jan 2024). Whether treatment is appropriate for a particular person is a question for their clinician.
What company is leading gene editing?
There is no single leader; the field is split by role. Vertex Pharmaceuticals holds the FDA approval for Casgevy, the first approved CRISPR/Cas9 therapy. Reagent and tool suppliers such as Synthego provide research and GMP editing components, and nonprofit repositories such as Addgene distribute plasmids. Which organization “leads” depends on whether you mean therapeutics, reagents or shared resources.
Is CRISPR-Cas9 expensive?
No sourced price figures are given here. Cost depends on what is being bought: research-grade guide RNA, GMP-grade components and an approved therapy are different products from different suppliers, and pricing is set by each supplier. Request current quotations from suppliers rather than relying on third-party estimates.
FAQ
What is Synthego?
A CRISPR solutions provider selling synthetic guide RNA, nucleases, GMP gene-editing components, reagents and an analysis tool; its guide RNA is made in Redwood City, California.
Who owns Synthego now?
Funds managed by Perceptive Advisors completed an acquisition of substantially all of its assets on July 18, 2025, and the brand continues.
Where is the ICE tool hosted?
Synthego’s company page links the ICE CRISPR Analysis Tool to ice.editco.bio.
Sources
- Synthego, company page: synthego.com/company (read 2026-11-07).
- BioSpace, “Synthego announces successful close of acquisition by Perceptive Advisors” (July 2025): biospace.com (read 2026-11-07).
- PR Newswire, “EditCo Bio and Telegraph Hill Partners acquire Synthego’s engineered cell solutions business” (March 27, 2024): prnewswire.com (read 2026-11-07).
- FDA, “FDA Approves First Gene Therapies to Treat Patients with Sickle Cell Disease” (Dec 8, 2023): fda.gov (read 2026-11-07).
- FDA, Casgevy product page and January 16, 2024 approval letter (STN 125785): fda.gov/casgevy (checked 2026-11-07).
