Gene-editing biotech companies are showing the potential to cure diseases. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could approve the first CRISPR gene-editing therapy this year -- exa-cel, developed by CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals -- to treat severe sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TBT), a blood disorder associated with anemia.

That decision could create a tsunami of investor interest in other gene-editing stocks. Two others to watch for with solid long-term prospects are Beam Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BEAM) and Intellia Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NTLA). Both are clinical-stage biotechs with no marketed therapies and neither is profitable, but that hasn't stopped Cathie Wood's ARK Innovation ETF from gobbling up shares in each.

Which gene-editing stock is the better buy? Let's take a look.

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Source Fool.com