– Company plans to pursue accelerated development pathway for LentiGlobinTM in sickle cell disease (SCD) –
– Ended quarter with
– Company to hold conference call and webcast to discuss ASH
abstracts and development plans for SCD tomorrow,
“2018 has been a year of tremendous growth and transition at bluebird,
notably exemplified by the filing of our first regulatory application
for LentiGlobin in transfusion dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) with
the
“The emerging data from our LentiGlobin program in SCD demonstrate the
potential to rapidly produce high levels of anti-sickling HbAT87Q
that we hope will fundamentally reduce sickling and hemolysis, thereby
providing a meaningful increase in total hemoglobin and leading to a
reduction in clinical events,” said
Recent Highlights
TDT
- LENTIGLOBIN MAA ACCEPTANCE – In
October 2018 , the EMA accepted for review the company’s marketing authorization application (MAA) for its investigational LentiGlobin gene therapy for the treatment of adolescents and adults with TDT and a non-β0/β0 genotype. LentiGlobin was previously granted an accelerated assessment by theCommittee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the EMA inJuly 2018 , potentially reducing the EMA’s active review time of the MAA from 210 days to 150 days.
SCD
- LENTIGLOBIN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY – Based on ongoing discussions
with the
FDA , bluebird bio is modifying and expanding its clinical development plans to explore efficacy endpoints that may allow the company to pursue a more accelerated development path inthe United States for the treatment of patients with SCD who have a history of VOEs. Enrollment of the HGB-206 study has been expanded to enroll up to 50 adult and adolescent patients. The expanded HGB-206 study has a new primary efficacy endpoint based on HbAT87Q and total hemoglobin, and a key secondary endpoint of frequency of VOEs. As modified, the HGB-206 study will increase the overall set of clinical data regarding the relationship between anti-sickling hemoglobin and clinical outcomes and has the potential to validate the new primary efficacy endpoint as a surrogate endpoint for other SCD clinical outcomes such as VOEs. In 2019, bluebird bio intends to initiate a multi-site, international Phase 3 study of LentiGlobin for the treatment of patients with SCD and a history of VOEs with the same primary and secondary endpoints, and comparable design, as the HGB-206 study. bluebird bio is also engaged in ongoing discussions with the EMA regarding proposed development plans for LentiGlobin in SCD inEurope .
CALD
- UPDATED DATA AT THE SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF INBORN ERRORS OF
METABOLISM SYMPOSIUM – In
September 2018 , bluebird bio announced updated results from the Phase 2/3 Starbeam study (ALD-102) of its investigational Lenti-D™ gene therapy in boys 17 years of age and under with CALD, and initial data from ALD-103, the ongoing observational study of outcomes from allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) in boys 17 years of age and under with CALD. bluebird bio has also reached general agreement with theFDA and the EMA to use data from ALD-102 and ALD-103 to support future marketing applications for Lenti-D in CALD. - ALD-104 STUDY – In early 2019, bluebird bio intends to initiate a multi-site Phase 3 study of the Lenti-D product candidate for the treatment of patients with CALD to enable access following completion of enrollment in the Starbeam study, and to evaluate the suitability of additional conditioning regimens for use with the Lenti-D product candidate.
COMPANY
- REGENERON COLLABORATION – In
August 2018 , bluebird bio andRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Regeneron) announced a collaboration to apply their respective technology platforms to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel immune cell therapies for cancer. The collaborators will specifically leverage Regeneron’s VelociSuite® technology platforms for the discovery and characterization of fully human antibodies, as well as T cell receptors (TCRs) directed against tumor-specific proteins and peptides, and bluebird bio will contribute its field-leading expertise in gene transfer and cell therapy. - GRITSTONE COLLABORATION – In
August 2018 , bluebird bio andGritstone Oncology, Inc. (Gritstone) announced a collaboration to utilize Gritstone’s proprietary technology platform to identify and validate tumor-specific targets and provide TCRs directed to selected targets for use in bluebird’s gene therapy products. bluebird bio will conduct all development, manufacturing and commercial activities. - STRENGTHENED BALANCE SHEET – In
July 2018 , bluebird bio raised approximately$600.6 million in net proceeds through a public equity offering. bluebird bio anticipates that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund operations into 2022 based on the company’s current business plan.
Upcoming Anticipated Milestones
- TDT
-
Presentation of LentiGlobin clinical data from the Northstar
(HGB-204) clinical study in patients with TDT at the
American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting - Presentation of LentiGlobin clinical data from the Northstar-2 (HGB-207) clinical study in patients with TDT and non-β0/β0 genotypes at the ASH Annual Meeting
- Presentation of LentiGlobin clinical data from the Northstar-3 (HGB-212) clinical study in patients with TDT and the β0/β0 genotype at the ASH Annual Meeting
-
Presentation of LentiGlobin clinical data from the Northstar
(HGB-204) clinical study in patients with TDT at the
- SCD
- Presentation of LentiGlobin clinical data from the HGB-206 clinical study in patients with SCD at the ASH Annual Meeting
- Presentation early data from the investigator-initiated Phase 1 study of shRNAmiR lentiviral vector targeting BCL11A for autologous gene therapy in SCD at the ASH Annual Meeting
- Multiple Myeloma
- Presentation of bb21217 clinical data from the CRB-402 clinical study in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma at the ASH Annual Meeting
-
Initiation by
Celgene of a Phase 3 clinical study of bb2121 in third line multiple myeloma
Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results
- Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
as of
September 30, 2018 andDecember 31, 2017 were$2.0 billion and$1.6 billion , respectively. The increase in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities is primarily related to the completion of a public offering of common stock inJuly 2018 , which raised net proceeds of approximately$600.6 million , and the receipt of$100.0 million from Regeneron made in connection with the company’s collaboration with Regeneron which was entered into inAugust 2018 . The overall increase in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities was offset by$40.0 million paid to Gritstone in connection with the company’s collaboration with Gritstone, which was also entered into inAugust 2018 , and cash used in operating activities. - Revenues: Total revenues were
$11.5 million for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2018 compared to$7.7 million for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2017 . Total revenues were$35.3 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2018 compared to$31.3 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017 . The increase in both periods was primarily attributable to increased manufacturing services under the company’s collaboration agreement with Celgene, offset by decreased license and royalty revenue. - R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were
$116.7 million for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2018 compared to$61.5 million for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2017 . Research and development expenses were$328.9 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2018 compared to$180.5 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017 . The increase in both periods was driven by costs incurred to advance and expand the company’s pipeline and is attributable to increased clinical trial-related costs and manufacturing costs for development programs, increased laboratory expenses, increased employee-related costs due to headcount growth, and increased license milestones and fees under the company’s strategic collaboration and license agreements. - G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were
$44.5 million for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2018 compared to$23.0 million for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2017 . General and administrative expenses were$120.6 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2018 compared to$64.5 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017 . The increase in both periods was attributable to increases in employee-related costs due to increased headcount to support overall growth, commercial-readiness activities, and professional and consulting fees. - Net Loss: Net loss was
$145.5 million for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2018 compared to$78.8 million for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2017 . Net loss was$406.6 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2018 compared to$218.4 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017 .
Conference Call & Webcast Information
bluebird bio will
host a conference call and live webcast at
About bluebird bio, Inc.
With its lentiviral-based gene
therapies, T cell immunotherapy expertise and gene editing capabilities,
bluebird bio has built a pipeline with broad potential application in
severe genetic diseases and cancer.
bluebird bio's gene therapy clinical programs include investigational treatments for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia, also known as β-thalassemia major, and sickle cell disease.
bluebird bio's oncology pipeline is built upon the company's 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. The company’s lead oncology
programs are anti-BCMA CAR T programs partnered with
bluebird bio’s discovery research programs include utilizing megaTAL/homing endonuclease gene editing technologies with the potential for use across the company's pipeline.
bluebird bio has operations in
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 financial condition, results of operations, as well as
statements regarding the anticipated development for the Company’s
product candidates, including anticipated regulatory milestones, planned
clinical studies, as well as the Company’s intentions regarding the
timing for providing further updates on the development of its product
candidates. 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 risks that the preliminary positive efficacy and
safety results from our prior and ongoing clinical trials of our product
candidates will not continue or be repeated in our ongoing clinical
trials, the risk of cessation or delay of any of the ongoing or planned
clinical studies and/or our development of our product candidates, the
risk of a delay in the enrollment of patients in our clinical studies,
risks that the current or planned clinical trials of our LentiGlobin,
Lenti-D, bb2121 or bb21217 product candidates will be insufficient to
support regulatory submissions or marketing approval in the
bluebird bio, Inc. |
||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended |
For the nine months ended |
|||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||||
Collaboration revenue | $ | 10,926 | $ | 5,211 | $ | 33,971 | $ | 18,189 | ||||||||||
License and royalty revenue | $ | 602 | 2,500 | $ | 1,365 | 13,070 | ||||||||||||
Total revenues | 11,528 | 7,711 | 35,336 | 31,259 | ||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||
Research and development | 116,744 | 61,545 | 328,867 | 180,464 | ||||||||||||||
General and administrative | 44,527 | 22,982 | 120,621 | 64,463 | ||||||||||||||
Cost of license and royalty revenue | 29 | 1,100 | 67 | 1,520 | ||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of contingent consideration | 47 | (258 | ) | 843 | 205 | |||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 161,347 | 85,369 | 450,398 | 246,652 | ||||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (149,819 | ) | (77,658 | ) | (415,062 | ) | (215,393 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest income (expense), net | 4,591 | (1,155 | ) | 8,415 | (1,842 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other income (expense), net | (252 | ) | 8 | 45 | (1,180 | ) | ||||||||||||
Loss before income taxes | (145,480 | ) | (78,805 | ) | (406,602 | ) | (218,415 | ) | ||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (145,480 | ) | $ | (78,805 | ) | $ | (406,602 | ) | $ | (218,415 | ) | ||||||
Net loss per share - basic and diluted: | $ | (2.73 | ) | $ | (1.73 | ) | $ | (7.95 | ) | $ | (5.14 | ) | ||||||
Weighted-average number of common shares used in computing net loss per share - basic and diluted: | 53,277 | 45,648 | 51,130 | 42,524 | ||||||||||||||
bluebird bio, Inc. |
||||||||
As of | As of | |||||||
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | |||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | 1,999,050 | $ | 1,614,302 | ||||
Total assets | 2,351,789 | 1,900,567 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 350,999 | 277,135 | ||||||
Total stockholders' equity | 2,000,790 | 1,623,432 |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181101006076/en/
Source: bluebird bio
bluebird bio
Investors:
Elizabeth Pingpank, 617-914-8736
epingpank@bluebirdbio.com
or
Media:
Stephanie
Fagan, 201-572-9581
sfagan@bluebirdbio.com