Many gene-mutation advocates were using this case to highlight how mass genetic mutation is coming sooner than we think. The aftermath seems to indicate that we have longer than most optimists believe before we can effectively modify human genes.

Now that this attempt was a failure, I imagine it'll affect future research considerably. This rogue attempt had to succeed in order to flip staunch opponents towards supporting human gene modification in some form. Now we just have a case people can point to as why this should never be done.