Add a little bit of crisp… The FDA approved the world’s first therapy using gene-editing Crispr technology. Exa-cel — a treatment for sickle-cell disease developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Crispr Therapeutics — works by genetically manipulating patients’ cells. Unlike medicines that treat diseases, Crispr targets their root causes, creating a potential one-and-done cure for diseases like cancer and diabetes. It’s poised to transform medicine, though its exorbitant cost (Exa-cel rings up at $2.2M/patient) is a roadblock.
Can’t taste the rainbow… Meet “flavorflation,” shrinkflation’s annoying cousin, where food companies try to blunt inflation’s effect by switching to cheaper ingredients to save $$. Customers have complained about crumblier Ritz crackers, Breyers that’s more ice than cream, and Twix caramel that’s betwixt bland and nonexistent. Last year, a survey found that over 60% of food and bev brands had changed recipes since 2020. Meanwhile, snack giants like Pepsi, Campbell, and Oreo maker Mondelez have benefited from price hikes.