Celgene and bluebird bio to Develop Anti-BCMA Product Candidates

bluebird bio, Inc., has announced that its existing global collaboration agreement with Celgene Corporation has been amended and restated to focus on developing product candidates targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) during a 3-year collaboration term. The original collaboration, initiated in 2013, was focused on applying gene therapy technology to genetically modify a patient’s own T cells to target and destroy cancer cells. BCMA is the first target selected to advance to the clinic under this collaboration. BCMA is a cell surface protein that is expressed in normal plasma cells and in most multiple myeloma cells, but is absent from other normal tissues.

Celgene and bluebird bio will work collaboratively on the initial, lead anti-BCMA product candidate (bb2121), with a Phase 1 clinical trial expected to begin enrollment in early 2016, and develop next-generation anti-BCMA product candidates. bluebird bio retains sole rights to develop all other chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell programs developed by bluebird bio under the collaboration, including ongoing undisclosed preclinical programs with opportunities in both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.

Under the terms of the amended and restated collaboration agreement:

• bluebird bio will receive a $25 million payment to develop the lead anti-BCMA product candidate through a Phase 1 clinical trial and develop next-generation anti-BCMA product candidates.

• bluebird bio will be responsible for the development of all anti-BCMA product candidates through the completion of Phase I studies.

• In addition, on a product-by-product basis within the anti-BCMA product program, Celgene has an option to develop and commercialize each product candidate worldwide, and bluebird bio has the option to share equally in the development, promotion and profits of each product candidate in the US. In addition to the payments described above and consistent with the prior agreement, Celgene would also pay bluebird bio specified development and regulatory milestone payments as well as royalty payments on net sales.

“We have successfully achieved the initial goal of our collaboration with Celgene — identifying a promising lead development candidate in the CAR T cell field — and we are excited to focus our Celgene collaboration on the development of anti-BCMA products,” said Nick Leschly, chief bluebird. “Celgene is a leader in developing and commercializing therapies for multiple myeloma, and we believe they are the best global partner for our first CAR T program. Together we look forward to entering the clinic early next year with bb2121 and continuing our collaboration around next-generation BCMA products.”

“Our collaboration with bluebird bio has collectively made strong progress advancing a lead product candidate, targeting BCMA, toward the clinic in hematologic malignancies. We look forward to continuing to work with bluebird and build on the recent success to advance the anti-BCMA program and ultimately, to succeed on the goal of delivering a high-impact therapeutic in the CAR T arena,” said Tom Daniel, President of Research and Early Development at Celgene.