Leading innovation in CRISPR: the story of Caszyme CEO Dr. Monika Paule

When you talk about bold moves in biotechnology, the journey of Dr. Monika Paule stands out. As the CEO and co-founder of Caszyme, a pioneering Lithuanian biotechnology company specializing in CRISPR gene-editing technologies, she helped transform a world-class academic discovery into a dynamic biotech company pushing boundaries in the global CRISPR field. With a blend of scientific legacy and entrepreneurial insight, Paule is not only redefining the biotech landscape in Lithuania but also serving as a model of leadership, innovation, and resilience in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

From academic roots to a commercial mission

Caszyme’s origin story begins in the lab, not the boardroom. It was built on groundbreaking research by renowned Lithuanian scientists Professor Virginijus Siksnys and Dr. Giedrius Gasiunas, both are the other co-founders of the company – among the first in the world to demonstrate programmable DNA editing using CRISPR systems. 

CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. It refers to a natural genetic system found in bacteria, which they use as a kind of immune defense against viruses. Scientists adapted this system to develop CRISPR-Cas gene-editing technology, which allows precise and targeted changes to DNA in plants, animals, and humans.

“Recognizing its revolutionary potential beyond academia, we decided to commercialize this technology by founding Caszyme,” Paule told The Baltic Times Magazine.

With her unique background bridging business and science, Paule brought the critical management and development perspective to the founding team. The vision was clear – to move CRISPR from theory to application, from Petri dishes to life-changing products.

The company's mission is to develop and provide advanced CRISPR solutions for various applications, including therapeutics, diagnostics, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology. Caszyme offers expertise in CRISPR nucleases, mRNA synthesis and optimization, protein evolution, and the development of customized gene-editing tools.

Blending economics with biotechnology

Despite her academic foundation in economics and management, Paule’s path to biotechnology felt almost inevitable. “Both my parents are biochemists, so science was always a part of my life,” she says. Her professional journey includes work at Johnson & Johnson and roles in biotech firms, as well as heading the IP Management and Commercialization Office at Vilnius University – experiences that organically led her into the world of life sciences.

“Biotech didn’t feel foreign,” she adds. “It felt like coming home, with a business toolkit in hand.”

Navigating the leadership landscape

As a woman leading a biotech company, Paule is candid about the hurdles. “Proving yourself as a female CEO isn’t a straightforward path,” she notes. Gender-related and cultural barriers still exist in many corners of the industry, but Paule views this challenge as part of a broader mission. “The increasing number of women in executive roles is encouraging. It sends a signal to young women that they, too, belong in this space.”

At Caszyme, that belief is practiced, not just preached – evident in the company's strong female representation in both leadership and research teams.

Simplifying CRISPR for the world

For those unfamiliar with gene editing, Paule breaks it down simply. “CRISPR is like a pair of molecular scissors that can cut and modify DNA with high precision.” This precision is what makes CRISPR such a game-changer, offering possibilities from treating genetic disorders to improving agricultural resilience.

Caszyme is advancing the field through its proprietary Cas12l nuclease platform, which Paule describes as central to their efforts in therapeutics and diagnostics. “We tailor high-quality CRISPR solutions for various industries – from healthcare to sustainability,” she explains.

Who Caszyme serves

Caszyme operates behind the scenes, partnering with major life sciences companies and emerging startups alike. “While we mainly serve corporate clients, the ultimate goal is end-user benefit – patients, farmers, communities,” says Paule. Whether it’s enabling therapies for eye diseases or developing crops that thrive in harsh climates, Caszyme’s work fuels real-world solutions.

Trailblazing in Lithuania and beyond

Caszyme is more than a local success story. It’s a global contender in a highly competitive space, especially with dominant players in the U.S. and Asia. Still, Lithuania’s rapidly maturing life sciences ecosystem, supported by exceptional scientific talent, offers a strong platform for growth.

“We were early movers in CRISPR, not just in Lithuania but internationally,” Paule notes. “That scientific credibility remains our core strength.”

Regulation and progress

Operating under the European Union’s tight regulatory framework, Caszyme must navigate one of the world’s most cautious landscapes for gene editing. “It’s stringent, especially in agriculture and therapeutics,” Paule acknowledges. However, she remains optimistic that ongoing EU-level dialogue will lead to modernization of the framework, balancing innovation with safety.

Diagnostics and the road ahead

Caszyme is deeply invested in the future of diagnostics and advanced therapies. “Diagnostics is about speed and accuracy. Therapies are about better tools and compatible delivery systems,” Paule says. She believes that the convergence of traditional biology with AI and data science is accelerating progress in both domains.

Affordability and accessibility remain core goals. “We can’t just innovate for the sake of it. The technology has to reach people and lead to tangible outcomes,” she emphasizes.

Bringing AI into biotech

At Caszyme, AI is not a replacement for lab work – it’s an enhancer. “We use AI models to predict and design new gene-editing tools,” Paule explains. However, those ideas are always validated in the lab. “AI gets us further, faster – but it’s the combination of in silico and in vitro methods that ensures reliability.”

The next decade

Looking to the future, Paule envisions Caszyme becoming a cornerstone in the global gene-editing space. “Our Cas12l nuclease has huge potential in clinical settings,” she says. “We want to see it helping real patients, real diseases.”

The company also aims to expand its diagnostic pipeline and keep pushing CRISPR innovation further. With a strong foundation in science, a forward-thinking approach to business, and a commitment to making biotech more inclusive and accessible, Caszyme seems well on its way.

“I believe the best science is collaborative, inclusive, and impactful.” Paule says concluding: “At Caszyme we are Courageous, Curious, Collaborative, Caring and Committed to Change. That’s the kind of legacy we’re building at Caszyme – leveraging CRISPR to empower a world that’s healthier, equitable and more sustainable.”