A private biotechnology venture, Preventive, is reportedly working toward the first known birth of a genetically modified baby outside China, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The company, funded by prominent tech investors including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has spent the past six months developing a method to edit an embryo to eliminate a hereditary disease.
Preventive’s executives have identified an anonymous couple concerned about passing on a genetic condition and interested in the company’s services, the report said. However, CEO Lucas Harrington denied that any such discussions are occurring, stating that the company is “compelled” to conduct its research abroad because U.S. law prevents the Food and Drug Administration from even considering commercial applications for human trials involving germline editing.
Legal Gray Area and Scientific Opposition
Human germline gene editing — altering sperm, eggs, or embryos — is prohibited in the United States by an act of Congress, but that ban applies only to research funded with federal money. Privately financed projects like Preventive’s are technically permissible, though scientists who pursue them risk professional ostracism. The practice has drawn widespread alarm, with leading researchers and trade organizations calling for a 10-year global moratorium.
The only known case of such editing resulted in severe consequences. In 2018, Chinese biophysicist He Jiankui admitted to producing genetically modified twins and was sentenced to three years in prison and a lifetime of scientific exile. His case underscored the risks and the near-universal condemnation the practice attracts.
Preventive is part of a “growing number of startups” in germline editing backed by wealthy tech figures, the WSJ reported. Similar ventures include Herasight, which claims to predict an embryo’s IQ, and Nucleus, a venture-capital-backed firm offering polygenic screening for $9,999.
Ethical and Health Concerns
While post-birth gene therapy is emerging as a legitimate medical field in the U.S., editing embryos before birth remains highly controversial. Scientists’ understanding of genetics is still incomplete, and the health risks of germline edits are poorly understood. A mistake could introduce changes that affect multiple generations, raising concerns about unintended consequences.
Philosophical objections also center on eugenics. In the U.S., where eugenicist policies have historical roots, the technology could be wielded by the wealthy to select for traits, exacerbating inequality. As Forbes contributor Erik Sherman noted in 2017 after scientists first used CRISPR to alter a human embryo: “undoubtedly someone will make the claim that the technology will free everyone. That will not happen anymore than early automation and the replacement of human workers led to more leisure time to learn and be creative.”
The report adds that Preventive is one of several such ventures, but the lack of regulatory oversight for private funding leaves a gap that could allow controversial experiments to proceed. The company’s denial of active patient talks does not rule out future attempts, and the scientific community remains on alert.