UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 2.02Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
bluebird bio, Inc. (the “Company” or “bluebird”) intends to share with investors the amount of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities it had on hand as of December 31, 2019. Although the Company has not finalized its financial results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, the Company currently anticipates that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were approximately $1.24 billion as of December 31, 2019. This information is unaudited and does not present all information necessary for an understanding of the Company’s financial condition as of December 31, 2019 and its results of operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019. The Company expects to announce its full results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 on or before March 2, 2020.
Item 7.01Regulation FD Disclosure.
bluebird will be conducting meetings with investors attending the 38th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, California beginning on January 13, 2020. As part of these meetings, the Company will present the slides furnished to this Current Report as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to Item 7.01 is intended to be furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. It may only be incorporated by reference in another filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, if such subsequent filing specifically references the information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of this Current Report.
Item 8.01Other Events.
On January 13, 2020, bluebird issued a press release announcing its launch in Germany of ZYNTEGLO (autologous CD34+ cells encoding βA-T87Q-globin gene), a one-time gene therapy for patients 12 years and older with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) who do not have a β0/β0 genotype, for whom hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is appropriate but a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched related HSC donor is not available.
The full text of bluebird’s press release regarding the announcement is filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8‑K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
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Description |
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99.1 |
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Slides presented to Investors furnished by bluebird bio, Inc. on January 13, 2020. |
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99.2 |
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Press release issued by bluebird bio, Inc. on January 13, 2020. |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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bluebird bio, Inc. |
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Date: January 13, 2020 |
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By: |
/s/ Jason F. Cole |
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Jason F. Cole |
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Chief Operating and Legal Officer |
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Planned 2020 Milestones – Distilling to Practice Ide-cel (bb2121) MM US BLA submission ZYNTEGLO completion of US BLA submission Lenti-D CALD EU MAA and US BLA Submissions Ide-cel (bb2121) KarMMa and CRB-401 data* LentiGlobin SCD Phase 3 HGB-210 Study Start Lenti-D ALD-102 data update Zynteglo Phase 3 (HGB-207 and HGB-212) data LentiGlobin SCD HGB-206 data and regulatory update ZYNTEGLO first commercial patients treated ZYNTEGLO QTC and Sick Fund contracts in place ZYNTEGLO Access and Reimbursement in additional EU countries established ZYNTEGLO and ide-cel US Launch Ready 1-2 New INDs CASH RUNWAY INTO SECOND HALF 2021 SECOND HALF 2020 FIRST HALF 2020 Regulatory Submissions Clinical Updates Commercial and Foundation Building *submission for data presentation planned in H1:20 Exhibit 99.1
T H E G E N E T H E R A P Y P R O D U C T S C O M P A N Y LentiGlobin SCD LentiGlobin TDT Lenti-D CALD Ide-cel (bb2121) Multiple Myeloma Products on the Market 4 INDs Per Year Beginning 2020 1-2 Clinical Programs 5+ bluebird 2022 Vision – The Leading Cell and Gene Therapy Company Patient Impact ∞ A Bold Vision in 2019 1: Many translational engine delivering Launched/ Submitted Launched with label expansions Launched Launched and heading towards earlier line approvals A Bold Vision in 2019… Becoming Even Bolder in 2020
Exhibit 99.2
bluebird bio Announces Launch in Germany of ZYNTEGLO™ (autologous CD34+ cells encoding βA-T87Q-globin gene) Gene Therapy for Patients 12 Years and Older with Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia Who Do Not Have β0/β0 Genotype
First agreements with statutory health insurances utilize bluebird’s innovative value-based payment model and provide coverage for ZYNTEGLO for up to 50% of patients in Germany
First qualified treatment center established at University Hospital of Heidelberg
to provide ZYNTEGLO to patients
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Jan. 13, 2020— bluebird bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLUE) announced the launch in Germany of ZYNTEGLO™ (autologous CD34+ cells encoding βA-T87Q-globin gene), a one-time gene therapy for patients 12 years and older with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) who do not have a β0/β0 genotype, for whom hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is appropriate but a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched related HSC donor is not available. This is the first time ZYNTEGLO is commercially available.
TDT is a severe genetic disease caused by mutations in the β-globin gene that result in significantly reduced or absent adult hemoglobin (HbA). In order to survive, people with TDT maintain hemoglobin (Hb) levels through lifelong chronic blood transfusions. These transfusions carry the risk of progressive multi-organ damage due to unavoidable iron overload. ZYNTEGLO is a one-time gene therapy that addresses the underlying genetic cause of TDT and offers patients the potential to become transfusion independent, which, once achieved, is expected to be lifelong.
Due to the highly technical and specialized nature of administering gene therapy in rare diseases, bluebird bio is working with institutions that have expertise in stem cell transplant as well as in treating patients with TDT to create qualified treatment centers that will administer ZYNTEGLO. bluebird bio has established a collaboration with University Hospital of Heidelberg as the first qualified treatment center in Germany.
In addition, bluebird has entered into value-based payment agreements with multiple statutory health insurances in Germany to help ensure patients and their healthcare providers have access to ZYNTEGLO and that payers only pay if the therapy delivers on its promise. bluebird’s proposed innovative model is limited to five payments made in equal installments. An initial payment is made at the time of infusion. The four additional annual payments are only made if no transfusions for TDT are required for the patient.
“For patients with TDT, lifelong chronic blood transfusions are required in order to survive. We are thrilled to announce that ZYNTEGLO will now be available for patients in the EU living with this severe disease,” says Alison Finger, chief commercial officer, bluebird bio. “In addition to confirming manufacturing readiness of our partner, apceth Biopharma GmbH, bluebird has also submitted a dossier to the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) in Germany for drug benefit assessment. We would
like to thank our collaborators for their commitment in helping us transform the healthcare system by accepting innovative payment models, and we look forward to treating our first commercial patient soon.”
About LentiGlobin for β-Thalassemia (autologous CD34+ cells encoding βA-T87Q-globin gene)
The European Commission granted conditional marketing authorization for LentiGlobin for β-thalassemia, to be marketed as ZYNTEGLO™ (autologous CD34+ cells encoding βA-T87Q-globin gene) gene therapy, for patients 12 years and older with TDT who do not have a β0/β0 genotype, for whom hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is appropriate, but a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched related HSC donor is not available.
TDT is a severe genetic disease caused by mutations in the β-globin gene that result in reduced or significantly reduced hemoglobin (Hb). In order to survive, people with TDT maintain Hb levels through lifelong chronic blood transfusions. These transfusions carry the risk of progressive multi-organ damage due to unavoidable iron overload.
LentiGlobin for β-thalassemia adds functional copies of a modified form of the β-globin gene (βA-T87Q-globin gene) into a patient’s own hematopoietic (blood) stem cells (HSCs). Once a patient has the βA-T87Q-globin gene, they have the potential to produce HbAT87Q, which is gene therapy-derived hemoglobin, at levels that may eliminate or significantly reduce the need for transfusions.
Non-serious adverse events (AEs) observed during the HGB-204, HGB-207 and HGB-212 clinical studies that were attributed to LentiGlobin for β-thalassemia were hot flush, dyspnoea, abdominal pain, pain in extremities, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, neutropenia and non-cardiac chest pain. One serious adverse event (SAE) of thrombocytopenia was considered possibly related to LentiGlobin for β-thalassemia for TDT.
Additional AEs observed in clinical studies were consistent with the known side effects of HSC collection and bone marrow ablation with busulfan, including SAEs of veno-occlusive disease.
The conditional marketing authorization for ZYNTEGLO is valid in the 28 member states of the EU as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. For details, please see the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted LentiGlobin for β-thalassemia Orphan Drug status and Breakthrough Therapy designation for the treatment of TDT. LentiGlobin for β-thalassemia is not approved in the United States.
bluebird bio has initiated the rolling BLA submission for approval in the U.S., and is engaged with the FDA in discussions regarding the requirements and timing of the various components of the rolling BLA submission. Subject to these ongoing discussions, the company is currently planning to complete the BLA submission in the first half of 2020.
LentiGlobin for β-thalassemia continues to be evaluated in the ongoing Phase 3 Northstar-2 and Northstar-3 studies. For more information about the ongoing clinical studies, visit www.northstarclinicalstudies.com or clinicaltrials.gov and use identifier NCT02906202 for Northstar-2 (HGB-207) or NCT03207009 for Northstar-3 (HGB-212).
bluebird bio is conducting a long-term safety and efficacy follow-up study (LTF-303) for people who have participated in bluebird bio-sponsored clinical studies of LentiGlobin for β-thalassemia. For more information visit: https://www.bluebirdbio.com/our-science/clinical-trials or clinicaltrials.gov and use identifier NCT02633943 for LTF-303.
About bluebird bio, Inc.
bluebird bio is pioneering gene therapy with purpose. From our Cambridge, Mass., headquarters, we’re developing gene therapies for severe genetic diseases and cancer, with the goal that people facing potentially fatal conditions with limited treatment options can live their lives fully. Beyond our labs, we’re working to positively disrupt the healthcare system to create access, transparency and education so that gene therapy can become available to all those who can benefit.
bluebird bio is a human company powered by human stories. We’re putting our care and expertise to work across a spectrum of disorders including cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, sickle cell disease, β-thalassemia and multiple myeloma, using three gene therapy technologies: gene addition, cell therapy and (megaTAL-enabled) gene editing.
bluebird bio has additional nests in Seattle, Wash.; Durham, N.C.; and Zug, Switzerland. For more information, visit bluebirdbio.com.
Follow bluebird bio on social media: @bluebirdbio, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
ZYNTEGLO, LentiGlobin, and bluebird bio are trademarks of bluebird bio, Inc.
The full common name for ZYNTEGLO: A genetically modified autologous CD34+ cell enriched population that contains hematopoietic stem cells transduced with lentiviral vector encoding the βA-T87Q-globin gene.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company’s plans and expectations for the commercialization for ZYNTEGLO™ (autologous CD34+ cells encoding βA-T87Q-globin gene, formerly LentiGlobin™ in TDT) to treat TDT, and the potential implications of clinical data for patients. Any forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that the efficacy and safety results from our prior
and ongoing clinical trials of ZYNTEGLO will not continue or be repeated in our ongoing or planned clinical trials of ZYNTEGLO; the risk that the current or planned clinical trials of ZYNTEGLO will be insufficient to support regulatory submissions or marketing approval in the US, or for additional patient populations in the EU; the risk that the production of HbAT87Q may not be sustained over extended periods of time; the risk that we may not secure adequate pricing or reimbursement to support continued development or commercialization of ZYNTEGLO; the risk that our collaborations with qualified treatment centers will not continue or be successful; and that the risk that commercial patients treated with ZYNTEGLO will not achieve or maintain transfusion independence. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause our actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Form 10-Q, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and bluebird bio undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.
bluebird bio
Investors:
Elizabeth Pingpank, 617-914-8736
epingpank@bluebirdbio.com
or
Media:
Jennifer Snyder, 617-448-0281
jsnyder@bluebirdbio.com