 Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated VRTX and Molecular Templates, Inc. Nasdaq: MTEM; Molecular Templates or MTEM today announced that the two companies have entered into a strategic research collaboration to discover and develop novel targeted conditioning regimens that may enhance the hematopoietic stem cell transplant process, including transplants conducted as part of treatment with ex vivo CRISPRCas9 gene editing therapies such as CTX001. CTX001 is currently being evaluated in two ongoing Phase 12 studies in patients with transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia and severe sickle cell disease, where a hematopoietic stem cell transplant is required as part of treatment with CTX001. 