- T cell receptor (TCR) therapeutic candidates against four targets to be generated using Medigene’s proprietary TCR technology platform and bluebird bio’s lentiviral vector, genome editing, synthetic biology, and manufacturing capabilities
-
Medigene responsible for the generation and delivery of the TCRs to bluebird bio - Joint preclinical development of all product candidates
- bluebird bio responsible for clinical development and commercialization of resulting products
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Medigene to receive an upfront payment ofUSD 15 million , R&D funding, potential preclinical, clinical and commercial milestone payments, which together could total overUSD 1 billion , in addition to royalties on net sales - bluebird bio will hold worldwide development and commercial rights and exclusive license for IP covering the TCRs
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Medigene conference call and webcast (in English) today,29 September 2016 , at3:00 pm CEST (9:00 am EDT )
MARTINSRIED/MUNICH &
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“We are delighted to collaborate with bluebird bio, a leader in the
field of cell and gene therapy, including cancer immunotherapy,” said
“Medigene’s proprietary technology to generate highly active natural
TCRs makes them an ideal partner, enabling us to broaden our pipeline
with TCR-based product candidates against four new targets and continue
to build our leadership in immuno-oncology,” said
“Our first commercial agreement based on Medigene’s TCR technology is
testimony to our rapid progress as an immuno-oncology company,” added
Under the terms of the agreement,
Contractual parties to the agreement are
Press and analysts' conference call:
About Medigene’s TCR technology: The TCR technology aims at arming the patient’s own T cells with tumor-specific T-cell receptors. The receptor-modified T cells are then able to detect and efficiently kill tumor cells. This immunotherapy approach attempts to overcome the patient's tolerance towards cancer cells and tumor-induced immunosuppression by activating and modifying the patient's T cells outside the body (ex-vivo).
TCR therapy is developed to detect a greater number of potential tumor
antigens than other T cell-based immunotherapies, such as chimeric
antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy.
Medigene’s TCR technology for adoptive T-cell therapy is one of the company’s three highly innovative and complementary immunotherapy platforms in immuno-oncology.
About bluebird bio: With its lentiviral-based gene therapies, T cell immunotherapy expertise and gene editing capabilities, bluebird bio has built an integrated product platform with broad potential application to severe genetic diseases and cancer. bluebird bio’s gene therapy clinical programs include its Lenti-D™ product candidate, currently in a Phase 2/3 study, called the Starbeam Study, for the treatment of cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, and its LentiGlobin™ BB305 product candidate, currently in four clinical studies for the treatment of transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia, and severe sickle cell disease. bluebird bio’s oncology pipeline is built upon the company’s leadership in lentiviral gene delivery and T cell engineering, with a focus on developing novel T cell-based immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR T) and T cell receptor (TCR) therapies. bluebird bio’s lead oncology program, bb2121, is an anti-BCMA CAR T program partnered with Celgene. bb2121 is currently being studied in a Phase 1 trial for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. bluebird bio also has discovery research programs utilizing megaTALs/homing endonuclease gene editing technologies with the potential for use across the company’s pipeline.
This press release contains forward-looking statements representing
the opinion of
bluebird bio 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 research, development and advancement of bluebird bio’s product
candidates and immuno-oncology research program, including its TCR
research program and those shared with
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160928006578/en/
Source: bluebird bio
Contact Medigene
Julia Hofmann, Dr. Robert Mayer, +49 - 89 -
20 00 33 - 33 01
investor@medigene.com
or
Contact
bluebird bio
Manisha Pai, +1-617-245-2107
mpai@bluebirdbio.com
or
Elizabeth
Pingpank, +1-617-914-8736
epingpank@bluebirdbio.com