StockWatch: Gene Editing Shares Jump on ESGCT Data, FDA Draft Guidance
Published . Updated .
Shares of gene editing therapy companies mostly surged this past week on two growth catalysts: Data readouts at the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy’s 33rd ESGCT Annual Congress, and the FDA's new draft guidance for personalized gene therapies.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- XLV Health Care Select Sector SPDR
Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story.
- XBI SPDR S&P Biotech ETF
SPDR S&P Biotech ETF: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story.
- VGK Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF
Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF holds stocks listed in Europe, which this story is about (“european”).
- LLY Eli Lilly and+21.6% 30d
Eli Lilly and (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story.
- JNJ Johnson & Johnson+1.5% 30d
Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story.
- PFE Pfizer+8.9% 30d
Pfizer (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story.
- MRK Merck+3.2% 18d
Merck (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLV | -3.03% | -2.77% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XBI | -3.49% | +0.99% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| VGKNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LLY | -9.71% | -8.92% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| JNJ | -2.53% | -0.72% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| PFE | -2.33% | -3.34% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| MRK | -5.94% | -5.65% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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StockWatch: Gene Editing Shares Jump on ESGCT Data, FDA Draft Guidance Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News
The price since 1 Nov 2026: Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) versus the S&P 500
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | three days earlier | -0.72% | final price |
| Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | five days earlier | -2.53% | final price |
| Eli Lilly (LLY) | three days earlier | -8.92% | final price |
| Eli Lilly (LLY) | five days earlier | -9.71% | final price |
| Merck (MRK) | three days earlier | -5.65% | final price |
| Merck (MRK) | five days earlier | -5.94% | final price |
| Pfizer (PFE) | three days earlier | -3.34% | final price |
| Pfizer (PFE) | five days earlier | -2.33% | final price |
| Spdr Series Trust (XBI) | three days earlier | +0.99% | final price |
| Spdr Series Trust (XBI) | five days earlier | -3.49% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) | three days earlier | -2.77% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) | five days earlier | -3.03% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Eli Lilly (LLY) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 58 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Sep 2026. That is 37 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Lloyd Doggett bought Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 8 Sep 2026. That is 54 days before publication. Filed 5 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 58 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Pfizer (PFE) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 58 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Pfizer (PFE), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 72 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold Merck (MRK), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 38 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Merck (MRK), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 19 Aug 2026. That is 74 days before publication. Filed 9 Sep 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)
Companies carried with this story
- XLV Select Sector Spdr Tr
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 1 Nov 2026 story “StockWatch: Gene Editing Shares Jump on ESGCT Data, FDA Draft Guidance.” Reason on file: Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story
- XBI Spdr Series Trust
In “StockWatch: Gene Editing Shares Jump on ESGCT Data, FDA Draft Guidance,” Spdr Series Trust (XBI) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: SPDR S&P Biotech ETF: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story
- LLY Eli Lilly
In “StockWatch: Gene Editing Shares Jump on ESGCT Data, FDA Draft Guidance,” Eli Lilly (LLY) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Eli Lilly and (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story
- JNJ Johnson & Johnson
For “StockWatch: Gene Editing Shares Jump on ESGCT Data, FDA Draft Guidance,” Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story
- PFE Pfizer
Pfizer (PFE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 1 Nov 2026 story “StockWatch: Gene Editing Shares Jump on ESGCT Data, FDA Draft Guidance.” Reason on file: Pfizer (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story
- MRK Merck
In “StockWatch: Gene Editing Shares Jump on ESGCT Data, FDA Draft Guidance,” Merck (MRK) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Merck (pharmaceutical preparations): drugmakers move with drug pricing, approvals and health policy. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)
On 1 Nov 2026, “StockWatch: Gene Editing Shares Jump on ESGCT Data, FDA Draft Guidance” is the story that connects Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) to this story.
The link for Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) is this: Health Care Select Sector SPDR: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story
A second company, Spdr Series Trust (XBI), is listed for a different reason: SPDR S&P Biotech ETF: it holds drugmakers and health companies. Linked by “fda” (pharma and health) in this story
Dates in the story, and the Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV) price range
LLY traded between 1131.55 and 1447.86 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 1415.62.
A simple score for Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLV)
46 out of 100
“StockWatch: Gene Editing Shares Jump on ESGCT Data, FDA Draft Guidance” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 6 linked companies.