– Consistently demonstrated improved vector copy number (VCN) in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) and severe sickle cell disease (SCD) patient cells in vitro with manufacturing Process 2 –
–Implementing plan to optimize patient outcomes in severe SCD –
–Achieved general agreement on regulatory path for TDT across all genotypes, ages –
–Advanced suspension manufacturing process –
“At bluebird bio we have an incredibly ambitious goal: to deliver
one-time, transformative therapies to patients with rare genetic
diseases and cancer. We are relentless in our efforts to continue
innovating in pursuit of that goal, and we have made substantial
advances in the transduction and manufacturing processes, translational
research, and clinical development,” said
LentiGlobin Manufacturing Data: A Head-to-Head In Vitro
Comparison of Process 1 and Process 2
bluebird bio has
recently modified the process by which the patient’s cells are
transduced in LentiGlobin clinical studies with the addition of
enhancers during the manufacturing process. The goal of manufacturing
Process 2 is to increase the percentage of cells successfully
transduced, thereby increasing vector copy number (VCN) in the drug
product that is given to the patient.
Using retained samples of CD34+ stem cells collected from patients in the HGB-204 (Northstar) and HGB-206 studies, the company was able to demonstrate in a head-to-head in vitro comparison that manufacturing Process 2 substantially increased the percentage of cells transduced and VCN, as compared to manufacturing Process 1.
This in vitro data from Process 2 showed an average increase of approximately three-fold in vector-positive cells and VCN across all patient samples tested. Process 2 has been successfully scaled up for clinical manufacturing, and all LentiGlobin clinical trials moving forward will use manufacturing Process 2, including the Phase 3 HGB-207 (Northstar-2) trial and the Phase 1 HGB-206 clinical trial.
bluebird bio also highlighted progress it has made in moving from adherent manufacturing of lentiviral vectors to potentially more efficient suspension manufacturing, consistently achieving the targeted potency, purity and VCNs at increased scale.
LentiGlobin in Sickle Cell Disease: Addressing the Challenges and
Promise of Gene Therapy
Based on an assessment of patient data
presented at ASH 2015 and the underlying biology of SCD, the company
believes that the following specific amendments to the protocol of the
ongoing HGB-206 clinical trial may lead to improved patient outcomes
through:
-
Improving or enhancing stem cell collection by both:
(i) Suppression of sickle cell bone marrow pathology through required pre-stem cell harvest red blood cell transfusions, and
(ii) Use of improved cell separation techniques and increase of the required minimum cell dose
- Increasing percentage of cells transduced and VCN through implementation of manufacturing Process 2 for LentiGlobin drug product
- Enhancing the engraftment of the LentiGlobin drug product by adjusting the target level of exposure to busulfan for pre-infusion conditioning; and
- Additional exploratory alternative cell collection approaches through the mobilization and apheresis of patient CD34+ cells using plerixafor
To accommodate these changes to the protocol, the study enrollment has been expanded for a total enrollment of up to 29 patients.
LentiGlobin in Transfusion-Dependent β-thalassemia: Regulatory
bluebird bio is working closely with regulatory
agencies in
-
General agreement with the
FDA on pivotal clinical trial designs across patient genotypes and age groups:- HGB-207 (Northstar-2) Phase 3 study in 15 adult and adolescent patients withTDT who do not have β0/β0 genotypes, with an additional pediatric cohort of 8 patients for a total enrollment of approximately 23 patients
- HGB-212 Phase 3 study in 15 adult, adolescent and pediatric patients with TDT who have β0/β0 genotypes to launch in 2017, with a primary endpoint of transfusion reduction
-
Both studies will be conducted using manufacturing Process 2 and
are designed to provide the basis for BLA submissions in
the United States
- Confirmation that, as part of the EMA Adaptive Pathways and PRIME programs, application for conditional approval for LentiGlobin in the EU would be based on data from the HGB-204 (Northstar) and HGB-205 studies of LentiGlobin, as well as available data from the HGB-207 (Northstar-2) and HGB-212 studies
To access the live webcast, please visit the “Events & Presentations” page within the Investors and Media section of the bluebird bio website at http://investor.bluebirdbio.com. Replays of the webcast will be available on the bluebird bio website for 90 days following the event.
About bluebird bio, Inc.
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.
bluebird bio has operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Seattle,
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 research, development, manufacturing and regulatory
approval plans for its LentiGlobin product candidate to treat
transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia and severe sickle cell disease,
including statements whether the planned manufacturing process changes
for LentiGlobin will reduce costs and improve outcomes of patients with
transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia and severe sickle cell disease,
whether the planned changes to the HGB-206 clinical trial protocol will
improve outcomes in patients with severe sickle cell disease. 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, risks that the preliminary positive results from our prior and
ongoing clinical trials of LentiGlobin will not continue or be repeated
in our ongoing or planned clinical trials of LentiGlobin, the risks that
the changes we have made in the LentiGlobin manufacturing process or the
HGB-206 clinical trial protocol will not result in reduced costs or
improved patient outcomes, risks that the current or planned clinical
trials of LentiGlobin will be insufficient to support regulatory
submissions or marketing approval in the US and EU, the risk of a delay
in the enrollment of patients in our clinical studies, and the risk that
any one or more of our product candidates will not be successfully
developed, approved or commercialized. 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
quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as discussions of potential
risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in our subsequent
filings with the
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161013005754/en/
Source: bluebird bio, Inc.
Investors:
bluebird bio, Inc.
Manisha Pai, 617-245-2107
mpai@bluebirdbio.com
or
Media:
bluebird
bio, Inc.
Elizabeth Pingpank, 617-914-8736
epingpank@bluebirdbio.com
or
Pure
Communications, Inc.
Dan Budwick, 973-271-6085