How can CRISPR-Cas9 technology impact the biopharmaceutical industry in terms of drug development?

CRISPR‑Cas9 lets scientists cut or replace specific DNA segments with high precision, so researchers can quickly create cell lines or animal models that carry the exact mutations found in patients. By having these accurate models, biopharmaceutical companies can test drug candidates on disease‑specific biology, speeding up target validation and reducing costly late‑stage failures. The technology also enables rapid screening of many genetic variations to find the most promising drug targets, shortening the discovery phase. Additionally, CRISPR can edit patient cells to produce personalized therapies, such as CAR‑T cells that are engineered to attack cancer cells more effectively. For example, researchers used CRISPR to knock out the KRAS gene in lung‑cancer cell lines, allowing them to test how a new inhibitor works specifically against KRAS‑mutated tumors.