New Collaboration with Seattle Children's Research Institute Targets New Immunotherapy Approaches to Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Phase 1/2 Study for Merkel Cell Carcinoma Planned with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Additional Preclinical Programs Across Both the Severe Genetic Disease and Oncology Therapeutic Areas Support IND Goals
Company Will Webcast Live from the Event Beginning at 8:30 a.m. EDT
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- bluebird bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLUE) today will host an Analyst Day in New York that will highlight significant progress in the company's emerging immuno-oncology and severe genetic disease pipeline, provide updates on launch expectations for its first gene therapy product and share key aspects of its long-term growth strategy. The company also is announcing a new research collaboration with Seattle Children's Research Institute in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a Phase 1/2 study planned in Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and programs in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) and MAGE-A4 positive solid tumors.
"bluebird is at a significant inflection point, with the potential approval and launch of our first gene therapy product this year and submissions for regulatory approval for potentially three additional products through 2022," said Nick Leschly, chief bluebird. "We have the opportunity to leverage our gene and cell therapy expertise across our platform and enable a steep innovation curve for next-generation products. We are fueled by what is just the beginning of our efforts to recode the science, systems and status quo to reach new innovation frontiers and make a significant impact on patients' lives."
Further strengthening its leadership position in developing transformative first-in-class and best-in-class gene and cell therapies, bluebird bio will discuss several key milestones and collaboration updates across its research pipeline, which is focused on next-generation, disruptive solutions for devastating diseases. In addition to the two clinic-ready programs planned for 2019, the company is on track to submit 1-2 investigational new drug applications in 2020 and beyond.
"Relentless innovation is in our DNA at bluebird. Our 1-to-Many research strategy rapidly integrates and iterates our tools and technologies across our core platforms of gene editing, gene addition and cellular immunotherapy, to develop the next generation of gene and cell therapies with the potential to improve patients' lives," said Philip Gregory, D. Phil., chief scientific officer, bluebird bio. "Our research engine, in partnership with our network of academic and industry collaborations, is designed to take on big problems that, if successful, will disrupt our field."
Research highlights include:
AML Research Collaboration with Seattle Children's Research Institute: The research collaboration is intended to address two challenges of tackling AML, specifically the heterogeneity of the disease as well as the salvage of normal tissues with the potential for on-target/off-tumor targeting. Our T cell immunotherapy approach is expected to leverage technology that enables T cells to target multiple antigens on the surface of cancer cells as well as bluebird's proprietary Dimerizing Agent Regulated Immunoreceptor Complex (DARIC) platform. By utilizing the DARIC platform in potential product candidates, we expect to be able to exert pharmacologic control of CAR T cell activity in vivo, allowing the investigator to switch on and switch off the activity of the engineered T cells in the patient as needed by administering a small molecule drug. Combined with Seattle Children's world-class bench-to-bedside expertise in the arena of oncology cell therapies, the research collaboration's goal is to rapidly accelerate development of potential new therapies for patients with AML.
Phase 1/2 Trial for Merkel Cell Carcinoma: An academic, proof-of-concept phase 1/2 single-arm study evaluating Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) TCR-engineered autologous T cells in combination with avelumab (anti-PDL1) is FDA-approved and in the final initiation stages of trial approval at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for the treatment of MCC, a rare neuroendocrine ca...
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