– LentiGlobin drug product vector copy number (DP VCN) of 2.9 copies/diploid genome; 77% of cells lentiviral vector sequence positive (LVV+) –
CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I December 14, 2016 I bluebird bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLUE), a clinical-stage company committed to developing potentially transformative gene therapies for severe genetic diseases and T cell-based immunotherapies for cancer, announced treatment of the first patient in Northstar-2, the Phase 3 study of its LentiGlobin drug product in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) and non-β0/β0 genotypes. This study will use LentiGlobin drug product manufactured with the addition of transduction enhancers intended to increase the drug product vector copy number and percent of cells transduced. The study’s primary endpoint is the proportion of treated subjects who meet the definition of “transfusion independence,” defined as total hemoglobin levels of at least 9g/dL without any RBC transfusions for a continuous period of at least 12 months at any time during the study.
“The opening of our first Phase 3 trial in TDT is an exciting milestone for bluebird,” said David Davidson, chief medical officer. “At ASH we presented interim LentiGlobin data from the Northstar study showing substantial and durable treatment effects, with all patients with non-β0/β0 genotypes and at least twelve months of follow-up achieving freedom from transfusions. We are hopeful that our new manufacturing process incorporating transduction enhancers will build upon these results and may provide even better outcomes for patients. It is an encouraging start for Northstar-2 to have achieved a robust drug product VCN of 2.9 c/dg and 77% LVV+ for our first treated patient. We are tremendously grateful to the patients, families, study investigators, and site staff who have participated in our LentiGlobin program and enabled progress toward our goal of improving the lives of patients with TDT.”
“The current results of the HGB-204 and HGB-205 LentiGlobin studies show a reduction, and in some cases, elimination of RBC transfusions in patients with TDT,” said Mark C. Walters, M.D., UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, a principal investigator on the study. “The current study, Northstar-2, will test a new manufacturing method to increase the VCN in the drug product. If it is successful, this new enhanced transduction method could expand the number of patients who no longer need transfusions after the gene therapy treatment.”
bluebird bio is also moving forward with plans to initiate Northstar-3 (HGB-212), a Phase 3 trial of LentiGlobin drug product in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia with the β0/β0 genotype. This study will also be conducted under the new manufacturing process, and is expected to begin enrolling patients in 2017. The primary endpoint of this planned study is transfusion reduction.
About Northstar-2 (HGB-207)
Northstar-2 is a Phase 3, global, multi-center study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LentiGlobin drug product in patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia with non-β0/β0 genotypes. In this study, the manufacturing process by which the patient’s cells are transduced with the LentiGlobin viral vector is modified, with the intent of increasing vector copy number and the percentage of cells successfully transduced.
The target enrollment of the study is 15 adult and adolescent patients and 8 pediatric patients. The study’s primary endpoint is the proportion of treated subjects who meet the definition of “transfusion independence,” defined as total hemoglobin levels of at least 9g/dL without any RBC transfusions for a continuous period of at least 12 months at any time during the study.
About TDT
Transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT), also called β-thalassemia major or Cooley’s anemia, is an inherited blood disease that can cause severe anemia and can be fatal within the first few years of life if not treated. TDT is one of the most common genetic diseases in the world, and approximately 60,000 children are born every year with a serious form of the disease.
Despite advances in the supportive conventional management of the disease, which consists of frequent and lifelong blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy, there is still a significant unmet medical need, including the risk for significant morbidity and early mortality. Currently, the only advanced treatment option for TDT is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Complications of allogeneic HSCT include a significant risk of treatment-related mortality, graft failure, graft vs. host disease and opportunistic infections, particularly in patients who undergo non-sibling-matched allogeneic HSCT.
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™ drug product, currently in four clinical studies for the treatment of transfusion-dependent β-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.
SOURCE: bluebird bio
Post Views: 41
– LentiGlobin drug product vector copy number (DP VCN) of 2.9 copies/diploid genome; 77% of cells lentiviral vector sequence positive (LVV+) –
CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I December 14, 2016 I bluebird bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLUE), a clinical-stage company committed to developing potentially transformative gene therapies for severe genetic diseases and T cell-based immunotherapies for cancer, announced treatment of the first patient in Northstar-2, the Phase 3 study of its LentiGlobin drug product in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) and non-β0/β0 genotypes. This study will use LentiGlobin drug product manufactured with the addition of transduction enhancers intended to increase the drug product vector copy number and percent of cells transduced. The study’s primary endpoint is the proportion of treated subjects who meet the definition of “transfusion independence,” defined as total hemoglobin levels of at least 9g/dL without any RBC transfusions for a continuous period of at least 12 months at any time during the study.
“The opening of our first Phase 3 trial in TDT is an exciting milestone for bluebird,” said David Davidson, chief medical officer. “At ASH we presented interim LentiGlobin data from the Northstar study showing substantial and durable treatment effects, with all patients with non-β0/β0 genotypes and at least twelve months of follow-up achieving freedom from transfusions. We are hopeful that our new manufacturing process incorporating transduction enhancers will build upon these results and may provide even better outcomes for patients. It is an encouraging start for Northstar-2 to have achieved a robust drug product VCN of 2.9 c/dg and 77% LVV+ for our first treated patient. We are tremendously grateful to the patients, families, study investigators, and site staff who have participated in our LentiGlobin program and enabled progress toward our goal of improving the lives of patients with TDT.”
“The current results of the HGB-204 and HGB-205 LentiGlobin studies show a reduction, and in some cases, elimination of RBC transfusions in patients with TDT,” said Mark C. Walters, M.D., UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, a principal investigator on the study. “The current study, Northstar-2, will test a new manufacturing method to increase the VCN in the drug product. If it is successful, this new enhanced transduction method could expand the number of patients who no longer need transfusions after the gene therapy treatment.”
bluebird bio is also moving forward with plans to initiate Northstar-3 (HGB-212), a Phase 3 trial of LentiGlobin drug product in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia with the β0/β0 genotype. This study will also be conducted under the new manufacturing process, and is expected to begin enrolling patients in 2017. The primary endpoint of this planned study is transfusion reduction.
About Northstar-2 (HGB-207)
Northstar-2 is a Phase 3, global, multi-center study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LentiGlobin drug product in patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia with non-β0/β0 genotypes. In this study, the manufacturing process by which the patient’s cells are transduced with the LentiGlobin viral vector is modified, with the intent of increasing vector copy number and the percentage of cells successfully transduced.
The target enrollment of the study is 15 adult and adolescent patients and 8 pediatric patients. The study’s primary endpoint is the proportion of treated subjects who meet the definition of “transfusion independence,” defined as total hemoglobin levels of at least 9g/dL without any RBC transfusions for a continuous period of at least 12 months at any time during the study.
About TDT
Transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT), also called β-thalassemia major or Cooley’s anemia, is an inherited blood disease that can cause severe anemia and can be fatal within the first few years of life if not treated. TDT is one of the most common genetic diseases in the world, and approximately 60,000 children are born every year with a serious form of the disease.
Despite advances in the supportive conventional management of the disease, which consists of frequent and lifelong blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy, there is still a significant unmet medical need, including the risk for significant morbidity and early mortality. Currently, the only advanced treatment option for TDT is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Complications of allogeneic HSCT include a significant risk of treatment-related mortality, graft failure, graft vs. host disease and opportunistic infections, particularly in patients who undergo non-sibling-matched allogeneic HSCT.
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™ drug product, currently in four clinical studies for the treatment of transfusion-dependent β-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.
SOURCE: bluebird bio
Post Views: 41
