CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS    WIRE)--bluebird bio, Inc. (Nasdaq:    BLUE) announced today that data from its gene and cell therapy    programs for sickle cell disease (SCD), transfusion-dependent    beta-thalassemia (TDT) and multiple myeloma (MM) will be    presented, including seven oral presentations, at the    62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual    Meeting and Exposition, taking place virtually from December    5-8, 2020.  
    Updated results from patients in Group C of the companys Phase    1/2 HGB-206 study of LentiGlobin for SCD gene therapy (bb1111)    will be presented.  
    bluebird bio will also present updated long-term efficacy and    safety results from the LTF-303 follow-up study; outcomes    across genotypes; and outcomes in pediatric patients from Phase    3 studies HGB-207 and HGB-212 of betibeglogene autotemcel    (beti-cel; formerly LentiGlobin for -thalassemia) in TDT.  
    Data from across the companys multiple myeloma program will be    presented. Presentations will include updated safety and    efficacy results from the Phase 1 CRB-401 clinical study of    idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel, bb2121) and preliminary data    from the ongoing Phase 1 CRB-402 clinical study of bb21217, as    well as subgroup analyses of the pivotal Phase 2 KarMMa study    of ide-cel. Ide-cel and bb21217 are investigational B-cell    maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor    (CAR) T cell immune therapies being studied, in partnership    with Bristol-Myers Squibb, for the treatment of adult patients    with MM.  
    Sickle Cell Disease Data at    ASH  
    Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients    Treated with LentiGlobin for Sickle Cell Disease (bb1111) Gene    Therapy Presenting Author: Julie Kanter, MD,    University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL    Date/Time: Oral #365, Sunday, December 6, 2020, 9:45 am    PST
    Resolution of Serious Vaso-occlusive Pain Crises and    Reduction in Patient-Reported Pain Intensity: Results from the    Ongoing Phase 1/2 HGB-206 Group C Study of LentiGlobin for    Sickle Cell Disease (bb1111) Gene Therapy Presenting    Author: Alexis A. Thompson, MD, Hematology Section Head,    Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital, Chicago, IL    Date/Time: Oral #677, Monday, December 7, 2020, 1:30 pm    PST  
    The GRNDaD Registry: Contemporary Natural History data and    an analysis of real-world patterns of use and limitations of    Disease Modifying Therapy in adults with SCD    Presenting Author: Alexandra Boye-Doe, MD, University of    North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC    Date/Time: Poster #1730, Sunday, December 6, 2020, 7:00    am  3:30 pm PST  
    Transfusion-Dependent -Thalassemia    Data at ASH  
    Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Betibeglogene Autotemcel    Gene Therapy for the Treatment of Transfusion-Dependent    -Thalassemia: Results in Patients with up to 6 Years of    Follow-up Presenting Author: Janet L.    Kwiatkowski, MD, MSCE, Director, Thalassemia Center at    Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA    Date/Time: Oral #153, Saturday, December 5, 2020, 12:00    pm PST  
    Favorable Outcomes in Pediatric Patients in the Phase 3    HGB-207 (Northstar-2) and HGB-212 (Northstar-3) Studies of    betibeglogene autotemcel Gene Therapy for the Treatment of    Transfusion-dependent -thalassemia Presenting    Author: Alexis A. Thompson, MD, MPH, Hematology Section    Head, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago,    Chicago, IL    Date/Time: Oral #154, Saturday, December 5, 2020, 12:15    pm PST  
    Improvement in Erythropoiesis Following Treatment with    Betibeglogene Autotemcel Gene Therapy in Patients with    Transfusion-Dependent -Thalassemia in the Phase 3 HGB-207    Study Presenting Author: John B. Porter, MA, MD,    FRCP, FRCPath, Head of Red Cell Unit, University College London    Hospital, London, UK    Date/Time: Poster #776, Saturday, December 5, 2020, 7:00    am  3:30 pm PST  
    Response of patients with transfusion-dependent    -thalassemia (TDT) to betibeglogene autotemcel (beti-cel;    LentiGlobin for -thalassemia) gene therapy based on HBB    genotype and disease genetic modifiers Presenting    Author: Mark C. Walters MD, Medical Director, Jordan Family    Center for BMT & Cellular Therapies Research, UCSF Benioff    Childrens Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA    Date/Time: Poster #1699, Sunday, December 6, 2020, 7:00    am  3:30 pm PST  
    Multiple Myeloma Data at    ASH  
    Updated results from the Phase I CRB-402 study of anti-BCMA    CAR-T cell therapy bb21217 in patients with relapsed and    refractory myeloma: correlation of expansion and duration of    response with T cell phenotypes Presenting    Author: Melissa Alsina, MD, Department of Blood and Marrow    Transplantation and Cellular Immunotherapy, H. Lee Moffitt    Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL    Date/Time: Oral #130, Saturday, December 5, 2020, 9:45    am PST  
    Idecabtagene Vicleucel (ide-cel, bb2121), a BCMA-directed    CAR T cell therapy, in patients with relapsed and refractory    multiple myeloma: updated results from phase 1 CRB-401    study Presenting Author: Yi Lin, MD, PhD,    Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN    Date/Time: Oral #131, Saturday, December 5, 2020, 10:00    am PST  
    Secondary Quality-of-Life Domains in Patients With Relapsed    and Refractory Multiple Myeloma Treated With the BCMA-Directed    CAR T Cell Therapy Idecabtagene Vicleucel (ide-cel; bb2121):    Results from the KarMMa Clinical Trial Author:    Nina Shah, MD, University of California San Francisco, San    Francisco, CA    Date/Time: Oral #437, Sunday, December 6, 2020, 12:15 pm    PST  
    Efficacy and Safety of Idecabtagene Vicleucel (ide-cel,    bb2121) in Elderly Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple    Myeloma: KarMMa Subgroup Analysis Presenting    Author: Jess Berdeja, MD, Sarah Cannon Research Institute    and Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, TN    Date/Time: Poster #1367, Saturday, December 5, 2020,    7:00 am  3:30 pm PST  
    Characterization of Cytokine Release Syndrome in the KarMMa    Study of Idecabtagene Vicleucel (ide-cel, bb2121) For Relapsed    and Refractory Multiple Myeloma Presenting    Author: Ankit Kansagra, MD, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer    Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX    Date/Time: Poster #1378, Saturday, December 5, 2020,    7:00 am  3:30 pm PST  
    Molecular and Phenotypic Profiling of Drug Product and    Post-infusion Samples from CRB-402, an Ongoing: Phase I    Clinical Study of bb21217 a BCMA-directed CAR T Cell    Therapy Presenting Author: Olivia Finney, PhD,    Associate Director, Immunotherapy, bluebird bio    Date/Time: Poster #1401, Saturday, December 5, 2020,    7:00 am  3:30 pm PST  
    Effects of Prior Alkylating Therapies on Preinfusion Patient    Characteristics and Starting Material for CAR T Cell Product    Manufacturing in Late-Line Multiple Myeloma    Presenting Author: Julie Rytlewski, PhD, Bristol Myers    Squibb, Princeton, NJ    Date/Time: Poster #1405, Saturday, December 5, 2020,    7:00 am  3:30 pm PST  
    KarMMa-4: Idecabtagene Vicleucel (ide-cel, bb2121), a    BCMA-Targeted CAR T Cell Therapy, in High-Risk Newly Diagnosed    Multiple Myeloma Presenting Author: Saad Z.    Usmani, MD, Director, Clinical Research in Hematologic    Malignancies, Levine Cancer Institute/Atrium Health, Charlotte,    NC    Date/Time: Poster #1418, Saturday, December 5, 2020,    7:00 am  3:30 pm PST  
    Healthcare Resource Utilization and Cost of Cytokine Release    Syndrome and Neurologic Events in Patients with Relapsed and    Refractory Multiple Myeloma Receiving the BCMA-directed CAR T    Cell Therapy Idecabtagene Vicleucel (ide-cel, bb2121) in the    KarMMa Trial Presenting Author: Parmeswaran    Hari, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI    Date/Time: Poster #1598, Saturday, December 5, 2020,    7:00 am  3:30 pm PST  
    A Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison of Efficacy Outcomes    for Idecabtagene Vicleucel (ide-cel, bb2121), a BCMA-directed    CAR T Cell Therapy Versus Conventional Care in Triple-Class    Exposed Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma    Presenting Author: Nina Shah, MD, University of    California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA    Date/Time: Poster #1653, Saturday, December 5, 2020,    7:00 am  3:30 pm PST  
    Idecabtagene Vicleucel (ide-cel, bb2121) Responses Are    Characterized by Early and Temporally Consistent Activation and    Expansion of CAR T Cells With a T Effector Phenotype    Presenting Author: Nathan Martin, PhD, Bristol Myers    Squibb, Princeton, NJ    Date/Time: Poster #2315, Sunday, December 6, 2020, 7:00    am  3:30 pm PST  
    KarMMa-3: A Phase 3 Study of Idecabtagene Vicleucel    (ide-cel, bb2121), a BCMA-Targeted CAR T Cell Therapy    Versus Standard Regimens in Relapsed and Refractory Multiple    Myeloma Presenting Author: Michel Delforge, MD,    PhD, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium    Date/Time: Poster #2323, Sunday, December 6, 2020, 7:00    am  3:30 pm PST  
    Idecabtagene Vicleucel (ide-cel, bb2121) in Relapsed and    Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Analyses of High-Risk Subgroups in    the KarMMa Study Presenting Author: Noopur S.    Raje, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA    Date/Time: Poster #3234, Monday, December 7, 2020, 7:00    am  3:00 pm PST  
    Health State Utility Valuation in Patients with Triple-Class    Exposed Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma Treated with    the BCMAdirected CAR T Cell Therapy, Idecabtagene Vicleucel    (idecel, bb2121): Results from the KarMMa Trial    Presenting Author: Michel Delforge, MD, PhD, University    Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium    Date/Time: Poster #3465, Monday, December 7, 2020, 7:00    am  3:00pm PST  
    Abstracts outlining bluebird bios accepted data at ASH are    available on the ASH conference website.  
    About LentiGlobin for SCD    (bb1111)  
    SCD is a serious, progressive and debilitating genetic disease    caused by a mutation in the -globin gene that leads to the    production of abnormal sickle hemoglobin (HbS), causing red    blood cells (RBCs) to become sickled and fragile, resulting in    chronic hemolytic anemia, vasculopathy and painful    vaso-occlusive events (VOEs). For adults and children living    with SCD, this means unpredictable episodes of excruciating    pain due to vaso-occlusion as well as other acute    complicationssuch as acute chest syndrome (ACS), stroke, and    infections, which can contribute to early mortality in these    patients.  
    LentiGlobin for SCD (bb1111) is an investigational gene therapy    being studied as a potential treatment for SCD. bluebird bios    clinical development program for LentiGlobin for SCD includes    the ongoing Phase 1/2 HGB-206 study and the ongoing Phase 3    HGB-210 study.  
    LentiGlobin for SCD was designed to add functional copies of a    modified form of the -globin gene (A-T87Q-globin    gene) into a patients own hematopoietic (blood) stem cells    (HSCs). Once patients have the A-T87Q-globin gene,    their red blood cells can produce anti-sickling hemoglobin    (HbA-T87Q) that decreases the proportion of HbS,    with the goal of reducing sickled red blood cells, hemolysis    and other complications.  
    As of March 3, 2020, a total of 37 patients have been treated    with LentiGlobin for SCD to-date in the HGB-205 (n=3) and    HGB-206 (n=34) clinical studies. The HGB-206 total includes:    Group A (n=7), B (n=2) and C (n=25).  
    LentiGlobin for SCD received orphan medicinal product    designation from the European Commission for the treatment of    SCD, and Priority Medicines (PRIME) eligibility by the European    Medicines Agency (EMA) in September 2020.  
    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan drug    designation, fast track designation, regenerative medicine    advanced therapy (RMAT) designation and rare pediatric disease    designation for LentiGlobin for SCD. LentiGlobin for SCD    continues to be evaluated in the ongoing Phase 1/2 HGB-206 and    Phase 3 HGB-210 studies.  
    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 SCD.    For more information visit: https://www.bluebirdbio.com/our-science/clinical-trials    or clinicaltrials.gov and use    identifier NCT02633943 for LTF-303.  
    LentiGlobin for SCD is investigational and has not been    approved in any geography.  
    About betibeglogene    autotemcel  
    Transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT) is a severe    genetic disease caused by mutations in the -globin gene that    result in reduced or significantly reduced hemoglobin (Hb). In    order to survive, people with TDT require chronic blood    transfusions to maintain adequate Hb levels. These transfusions    carry the risk of progressive multi-organ damage due to    unavoidable iron overload.  
    Betibeglogene autotemcel (beti-cel) adds functional copies of a    modified form of the -globin gene (A-T87Q-globin    gene) into a patients own hematopoietic (blood) stem cells    (HSCs). Once a patient has the A-T87Q-globin gene,    they have the potential to produce HbA-T87Q, which    is gene therapy-derived adult hemoglobin, at levels that may    eliminate or significantly reduce the need for transfusions.  
    The European Commission granted conditional marketing    authorization (CMA) for beti-cel, marketed as ZYNTEGLO gene    therapy, for patients 12 years and older with    transfusion-dependent -thalassemia (TDT) who do not have a    0/0 genotype, for whom hematopoietic    stem cell (HSC) transplantation is appropriate, but a human    leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched related HSC donor is not    available.  
    As of March 3, 2020, a total of 60 pediatric, adolescent and    adult patients, including 11 patients with at least 5 years of    follow-up, across genotypes of TDT have been treated with    beti-cel in the Phase 1/2 Northstar (HGB-204) and HGB-205    studies, and the Phase 3 Northstar-2 (HGB-207) and Northstar-3    (HGB-212) studies. In studies of beti-cel, patients were    assessed for transfusion independence, defined as no longer    needing red blood cell transfusions for at least 12 months    while maintaining a weighted average Hb of at least 9 g/dL.  
    Non-serious adverse events (AEs) observed during clinical    studies that were attributed to beti-cel included abdominal    pain, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, neutropenia, hot flush,    dyspnoea, pain in extremity, tachycardia and non-cardiac chest    pain. One serious adverse event (SAE) of thrombocytopenia was    considered possibly related to beti-cel.  
    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. On April 28, 2020, the European Medicines Agency (EMA)    renewed the CMA for beti-cel. The CMA for beti-cel is valid in    the 27 member states of the EU as well as UK, Iceland,    Liechtenstein and Norway. For details, please see the Summary of Product    Characteristics (SmPC).  
    The U.S. FDA granted beti-cel orphan drug designation and    Breakthrough Therapy designation for the treatment of TDT.    Beti-cel is not approved in the United States. Beti-cel    continues to be evaluated in the ongoing Phase 3 Northstar-2    (HGB-207) and Northstar-3 (HGB-212) studies.  
    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 beti-cel.  
    About idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel,    bb2121)  
    Ide-cel is a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed    genetically modified autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)    T cell immunotherapy. The ide-cel CAR is comprised of a murine    extracellular single-chain variable fragment (scFv) specific    for recognizing BCMA, attached to a human CD8  hinge and    transmembrane domain fused to the T cell cytoplasmic signaling    domains of CD137 4-1BB and CD3- chain, in tandem. Ide-cel    recognizes and binds to BCMA on the surface of multiple myeloma    cells leading to CAR T cell proliferation, cytokine secretion,    and subsequent cytolytic killing of BCMA-expressing cells.  
    Ide-cel is being developed as part of a Co-Development,    Co-Promotion and Profit Share Agreement between Bristol Myers    Squibb and bluebird bio. Ide-cel was granted accelerated    assessment by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on March 26,    2020, and the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) was    validated by the EMA on May 20, 2020. The FDA accepted the    ide-cel Biologics License Application (BLA) for priority review    on September 22, 2020.  
    KarMMa (NCT03361748) is a pivotal, open-label, single-arm,    multicenter, multinational, Phase 2 study evaluating the    efficacy and safety of ide-cel in adults with RRMM in North    America and Europe. The primary endpoint of the study is    overall response rate as assessed by an independent review    committee (IRC) according to the International Myeloma Working    Group (IMWG) criteria. Complete response rate is a key    secondary endpoint. Other secondary endpoints include time to    response, duration of response, progression-free survival,    overall survival, minimal residual disease evaluated by    Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) assay and safety. The study    enrolled 140 patients, of whom 128 received ide-cel across the    target dose levels of 150-450 x 106 CAR+ T cells    after receiving lymphodepleting chemotherapy. All enrolled    patients had received at least three prior treatment regimens,    including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor and    an anti-CD38 antibody, and were refractory to their last    regimen, defined as progression during or within 60 days of    their last therapy.  
    CRB-401 (NCT02658929) is an open-label Phase 1 study evaluating    the preliminary safety and efficacy of ide-cel in patients with    relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). The primary    endpoint of the study is safety. CRB-401 was designed as a    two-part (dose escalation and dose expansion) study to    determine the maximum tolerated dose and further evaluate the    safety, tolerability and clinical activity at the recommended    Phase 2 dose; these findings established the recommended dose    of the Phase 2 KarMMa trial. All patients have been treated in    the study and follow-up is ongoing.  
    In addition to the pivotal KarMMa and CRB-401 trials, bluebird    bio and Bristol Myers Squibbs broad clinical development    program for ide-cel includes clinical studies (KarMMa-2,    KarMMa-3, KarMMa-4) exploring ide-cel combinations and activity    in earlier lines of treatment for patients with multiple    myeloma, including newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. For more    information visit clinicaltrials.gov.  
    Ide-cel is not approved for any indication in any geography.  
    About bb21217  
    bb21217 is an investigational BCMA-targeted CAR T cell therapy    that uses the ide-cel CAR molecule and is cultured with the PI3    kinase inhibitor (bb007) to enrich for T cells displaying a    memory-like phenotype with the intention to increase the in    vivo persistence of CAR T cells. bb21217 is being studied    for patients with multiple myeloma in partnership with Bristol    Myers Squibb.  
    bluebird bios clinical development program for bb21217    includes the ongoing Phase 1 CRB-402 study. CRB-402 is the    first-in-human study of bb21217 in patients with relapsed and    refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), designed to assess safety,    pharmacokinetics, efficacy and duration of effect. CRB-402 is a    two-part (dose escalation and dose expansion), open-label,    multi-site Phase 1 study of bb21217 in adults with RRMM. For    more information visit: clinicaltrials.gov using    identifier NCT03274219.  
    bb21217 is not approved for any indication in any geography.  
    About bluebird bio, Inc.  
    bluebird bio is pioneering gene therapy with purpose. From our    Cambridge, Mass., headquarters, were developing gene and cell    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,    were 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. Were    putting our care and expertise to work across a spectrum of    disorders: cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, sickle cell disease,    -thalassemia and multiple myeloma, using gene and cell therapy    technologies including gene addition, 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.  
    Forward-Looking Statements  
    This release contains forward-looking statements within    the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of    1995. Any forward-looking statements are based on managements    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: regarding    the potential for betibeglogene autotemcel to treat    transfusion-dependent -thalassemia and the potential for    LentiGlobin for sickle cell disease (SCD) to treat SCD, and the    potential for idecabtagene vicleucel and bb21217 to treat    multiple myeloma; and the risk that the efficacy and safety    results from our prior and ongoing clinical trials will not    continue or be repeated in our ongoing or planned clinical    trials. 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.  
Original post:
bluebird bio to Present Data from Gene and Cell Therapy Programs During the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition -...