With the launch of its first gene therapy that's near-curative for sickle cell disease (SCD), everyone's talking about CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) and its collaboration partner Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

But CRISPR isn't the only biotech pursuing advanced medicines, and investors are already looking for the next players that might make big breakthroughs. It's riskier to invest earlier along in a company's development, but that's precisely where the largest returns lie, which means that now is the time to be looking for the rising stars of tomorrow.

While there's no telling precisely which companies are going to succeed or fail, there is a pair of early-stage gene editing businesses that are worth keeping on your radar. If their plans come to fruition -- and that's a big if -- they could deliver handsome profits to their shareholders.

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Source Fool.com