Significant Contracts	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Significant Contracts	7. Significant Contracts Intellectual Property Agreements CRISPR Therapeutics AG—Charpentier License Agreement In April 2014, the Company entered into a technology license agreement with Dr. Charpentier pursuant to which the Company licensed certain intellectual property rights under joint ownership from Dr. Charpentier to develop and commercialize products for the treatment or prevention of human diseases other than hemoglobinopathies (“CRISPR—Charpentier License Agreement”). In consideration for the granting of the license, the Company paid Dr. Charpentier an upfront fee of CHF 0.1 million ($0.1 million), and agreed to pay an immaterial annual license maintenance fee if Dr. Charpentier is not otherwise engaged in a service arrangement with the Company. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, and three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, Dr. Charpentier has been in a consulting arrangement with the Company, as such, no annual payments have been made under this provision. Dr. Charpentier is entitled to receive nominal clinical milestone payments. The Company is also obligated to pay Dr. Charpentier a low single digit percentage of sublicensing payments received under any sublicense agreement with a third party. In addition, the Company is also obligated to pay to Dr. Charpentier a low single-digit percentage royalty based on annual net sales of licensed products and licensed services by the Company and its affiliates and sublicensees. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company did not record any sublicensing fees due to Dr. Charpentier. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded $0 and $0.3 million, respectively, of sublicensing fees due to Dr. Charpentier These expenses were under the terms of the CRISPR—Charpentier License Agreement that was triggered by the execution of the JV agreement with Bayer Healthcare (“Bayer Agreement”). TRACR Hematology Limited—Charpentier License Agreement In April 2014, TRACR entered into a technology license agreement (“TRACR—Charpentier License Agreement”) with Dr. Charpentier pursuant to which TRACR licensed certain intellectual property rights under joint ownership from Dr. Charpentier to develop and commercialize products for the treatment or prevention of human diseases related to hemoglobinopathies. In consideration for the granting of the license, Dr. Charpentier is entitled to receive nominal clinical milestone payments. TRACR is also obligated to pay Dr. Charpentier a low single digit percentage of sublicensing payments received under any sublicense agreement with a third party. In addition, TRACR is obligated to pay to Dr. Charpentier low single digit percentage royalties based on annual net sales of licensed products and licensed services by the Company and its affiliates and sublicensees. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not record any sublicensing fees due to Dr. Charpentier under the terms of the TRACR—Charpentier License Agreement. Patent Assignment Agreement In November 2014, the Company entered into a patent assignment agreement (“Patent Assignment Agreement”) with Dr. Charpentier, Dr. Ines Fonfara, and the University of Vienna (collectively, the “Assignors”), pursuant to which the Company received from the Assignors all rights, title and interest in and to certain patent rights claimed in the U.S. Patent Application No.61/905,835. In consideration for the assignment of such rights, the Assignors are entitled to receive clinical milestone payments totaling up to €0.3 million (approximately $0.4 million) in the aggregate for the first human therapeutic product. The Company is also obligated to pay to the Assignors low single digit royalties based on annual net sales of certain products and services by the Company and its affiliates and sublicensees. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the sublicensing fees due to the Assignors under the terms of the Patent Assignment Agreement that was triggered under the collaboration agreement with Vertex and by the execution of the Bayer Agreement were immaterial. Collaboration Agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated On October 26, 2015, the Company entered into a strategic collaboration, option, and license agreement (“Collaboration Agreement”) with Vertex, focused on the use of CRISPR’s gene editing technology, CRISPR/Cas9, to discover and develop potential new treatments aimed at the underlying genetic causes of human disease. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized $1.2 million and $4.8 million of revenue related to the collaboration with Vertex. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized $1.2 million and $2.4 million of revenue related to the collaboration with Vertex. Research and development expense incurred by the Company in relation to its performance under the Collaboration Agreement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $2.1 million and $8.0 million, respectively. Research and development expense incurred by the Company in relation to its performance under the Collaboration Agreement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $1.7 million and $4.5 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, there was $79.5 million and $77.1 million of non-current deferred revenue related to the Collaboration Agreement, respectively. Joint Venture with Bayer Healthcare LLC On December 19, 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with Bayer HealthCare LLC to establish a joint venture to discover, develop and commercialize new therapeutics to cure blood disorders, blindness, and congenital heart disease. On February 12, 2016, the Company and Bayer HealthCare completed the formation of the joint venture entity, Casebia Therapeutics LLP (“Casebia”). CRISPR contributed its proprietary CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology and intellectual property for selected disease indications to Casebia and Bayer HealthCare contributed its protein engineering expertise and relevant disease know-how to Casebia. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the value of the Company’s equity method investment in Casebia was zero. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized $1.2 million and $3.9 million of revenue, respectively, related to the collaboration with Casebia. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized $1.2 million and $3.7 million of research and development expense, respectively, in relation to its performance under the agreement. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized $0.4 million and $1.3 million respectively, of stock-based compensation expense related to Casebia employees. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized $0.4 million and $0.4 million of revenue, respectively, related to the collaboration with Casebia. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized $0.4 million and $0.4 million of research and development expense, respectively, in relation to its performance under the agreement. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized $6.0 thousand of stock-based compensation expense related to the collaboration with Casebia. Non-current deferred revenue related to the Company’s collaboration with Casebia was $0.2 million and $0.5 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Unrecognized equity method losses in excess of the Company’s equity investment in Casebia was $15.7 million and $4.0 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Total operating expenses, and net loss of Casebia for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $10.2 million and $24.7 million, respectively. Total operating expenses, and net loss of Casebia for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $3.0 million and $77.1 million, respectively, which included research and development expenses of $71.4 million for the fair value of the CRISPR license contributed to Casebia in the formation of the joint venture.

7. Significant Contracts

Intellectual Property Agreements

CRISPR Therapeutics AG—Charpentier License Agreement

In April 2014, the Company entered into a technology license agreement with Dr. Charpentier pursuant to which the Company licensed certain intellectual property rights under joint ownership from Dr. Charpentier to develop and commercialize products for the treatment or prevention of human diseases other than hemoglobinopathies (“CRISPR—Charpentier License Agreement”). In consideration for the granting of the license, the Company paid Dr. Charpentier an upfront fee of CHF 0.1 million ($0.1 million), and agreed to pay an immaterial annual license maintenance fee if Dr. Charpentier is not otherwise engaged in a service arrangement with the Company. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, and three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, Dr. Charpentier has been in a consulting arrangement with the Company, as such, no annual payments have been made under this provision. Dr. Charpentier is entitled to receive nominal clinical milestone payments. The Company is also obligated to pay Dr. Charpentier a low single digit percentage of sublicensing payments received under any sublicense agreement with a third party. In addition, the Company is also obligated to pay to Dr. Charpentier a low single-digit percentage royalty based on annual net sales of licensed products and licensed services by the Company and its affiliates and sublicensees.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company did not record any sublicensing fees due to Dr. Charpentier. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded $0 and $0.3 million, respectively, of sublicensing fees due to Dr. Charpentier These expenses were under the terms of the CRISPR—Charpentier License Agreement that was triggered by the execution of the JV agreement with Bayer Healthcare (“Bayer Agreement”).

TRACR Hematology Limited—Charpentier License Agreement

In April 2014, TRACR entered into a technology license agreement (“TRACR—Charpentier License Agreement”) with Dr. Charpentier pursuant to which TRACR licensed certain intellectual property rights under joint ownership from Dr. Charpentier to develop and commercialize products for the treatment or prevention of human diseases related to hemoglobinopathies. In consideration for the granting of the license, Dr. Charpentier is entitled to receive nominal clinical milestone payments. TRACR is also obligated to pay Dr. Charpentier a low single digit percentage of sublicensing payments received under any sublicense agreement with a third party. In addition, TRACR is obligated to pay to Dr. Charpentier low single digit percentage royalties based on annual net sales of licensed products and licensed services by the Company and its affiliates and sublicensees.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not record any sublicensing fees due to Dr. Charpentier under the terms of the TRACR—Charpentier License Agreement.

Patent Assignment Agreement

In November 2014, the Company entered into a patent assignment agreement (“Patent Assignment Agreement”) with Dr. Charpentier, Dr. Ines Fonfara, and the University of Vienna (collectively, the “Assignors”), pursuant to which the Company received from the Assignors all rights, title and interest in and to certain patent rights claimed in the U.S. Patent Application No.61/905,835. In consideration for the assignment of such rights, the Assignors are entitled to receive clinical milestone payments totaling up to €0.3 million (approximately $0.4 million) in the aggregate for the first human therapeutic product. The Company is also obligated to pay to the Assignors low single digit royalties based on annual net sales of certain products and services by the Company and its affiliates and sublicensees.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the sublicensing fees due to the Assignors under the terms of the Patent Assignment Agreement that was triggered under the collaboration agreement with Vertex and by the execution of the Bayer Agreement were immaterial.

Collaboration Agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated

On October 26, 2015, the Company entered into a strategic collaboration, option, and license agreement (“Collaboration Agreement”) with Vertex, focused on the use of CRISPR’s gene editing technology, CRISPR/Cas9, to discover and develop potential new treatments aimed at the underlying genetic causes of human disease.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized $1.2 million and $4.8 million of revenue related to the collaboration with Vertex. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized $1.2 million and $2.4 million of revenue related to the collaboration with Vertex. Research and development expense incurred by the Company in relation to its performance under the Collaboration Agreement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $2.1 million and $8.0 million, respectively. Research and development expense incurred by the Company in relation to its performance under the Collaboration Agreement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $1.7 million and $4.5 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, there was $79.5 million and $77.1 million of non-current deferred revenue related to the Collaboration Agreement, respectively.

Joint Venture with Bayer Healthcare LLC

On December 19, 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with Bayer HealthCare LLC to establish a joint venture to discover, develop and commercialize new therapeutics to cure blood disorders, blindness, and congenital heart disease. On February 12, 2016, the Company and Bayer HealthCare completed the formation of the joint venture entity, Casebia Therapeutics LLP (“Casebia”). CRISPR contributed its proprietary CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology and intellectual property for selected disease indications to Casebia and Bayer HealthCare contributed its protein engineering expertise and relevant disease know-how to Casebia.

At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the value of the Company’s equity method investment in Casebia was zero.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized $1.2 million and $3.9 million of revenue, respectively, related to the collaboration with Casebia. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized $1.2 million and $3.7 million of research and development expense, respectively, in relation to its performance under the agreement. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized $0.4 million and $1.3 million respectively, of stock-based compensation expense related to Casebia employees. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized $0.4 million and $0.4 million of revenue, respectively, related to the collaboration with Casebia. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized $0.4 million and $0.4 million of research and development expense, respectively, in relation to its performance under the agreement. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized $6.0 thousand of stock-based compensation expense related to the collaboration with Casebia. Non-current deferred revenue related to the Company’s collaboration with Casebia was $0.2 million and $0.5 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Unrecognized equity method losses in excess of the Company’s equity investment in Casebia was $15.7 million and $4.0 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Total operating expenses, and net loss of Casebia for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $10.2 million and $24.7 million, respectively. Total operating expenses, and net loss of Casebia for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $3.0 million and $77.1 million, respectively, which included research and development expenses of $71.4 million for the fair value of the CRISPR license contributed to Casebia in the formation of the joint venture.