Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics cosponsored a study looking into treating the related genetic disorders of sickle cell anemia (the body produces sickle shaped red blood cells that inhibit blood flow) and beta thalassemia (when the body doesn't make enough hemoglobin for red blood cells to function properly). The study had 75 praticipents, 44 with beta thaassemia of which 42 were able to discontinue the transfusions that they had needed until then, and 35 with sickle cell disease, all of whom ended up free of symptoms. The companies are asking the Food and Drug Administration to approve the treatements, however said treatments are expected to be very expensive (as in upwards of millions of dollars), so approval probably won't allow a miraculous eradication of the disorders.