We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Bluebird's Shares Jump on Strong Data for CAR-T Therapy
Read MoreHide Full Article
Shares of the company bluebird bio, Inc. (BLUE - Free Report) , went up almost 17.9% after the company along with its partner Celgene Corporation announced five months of follow-up data from the ongoing phase I study (n=21) of its chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy candidate- bb2121. The open-label phase I CRB-401 study is evaluating the preliminary safety and efficacy of bb2121 in patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma. The study also aims to identify a dose to use in phase II studies.
So far this year, bluebird’s shares have skyrocketed 227%, compared with the industry’s gain of 3%.
As of the cutoff date of Oct 2, 2017, 21 patients had been enrolled patients and dosed in the dose-escalation phase of the study in four dose cohorts. The patients in the study were heavily pre-treated and had failed on a median of seven prior lines.
Of the 18 patients in the active dose cohorts of the study, 94% achieved an objective response (OR). 56% patients achieved a complete response compared with the CR rate of 27% as shown in the data released at ASCO in June this year. The increase in CR rate from the previous update led to the increase in share price.
The study also showed that nine out of ten (90%) of patients evaluable for minimal residual disease (MRD) status were found to be MRD-negative. The study did not reach the median progression free survival (PFS) with median follow up of 40 weeks in active dose cohorts. These encouraging data and the deepening response showed by bb2121 in the study bode well for the candidate and if approved can prove to be a groundbreaking CAR-T therapy in multiple myeloma.
However bluebird’s competitor Juno Therapeutics, Inc. released additional data from the TRANSCEND phase I study on its CAR-T candidate JCAR017 (in patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The TRANSCEND trial demonstrated that in a high risk patient population, 74% of patients achieved an overall response rate while and 68% achieved CR rate at 3 months.
We also note that another company Gilead Sciences Inc.’s (GILD - Free Report) CAR-T therapy, Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), was approved by the FDA in October for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Yescarta is the first CAR-T therapy approved by the FDA for this indication.
We also note that Novartis breakthrough gene transfer treatment, Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) received FDA approval for the treatment of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is refractory or in second or later relapse.
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Image: Bigstock
Bluebird's Shares Jump on Strong Data for CAR-T Therapy
Shares of the company bluebird bio, Inc. (BLUE - Free Report) , went up almost 17.9% after the company along with its partner Celgene Corporation announced five months of follow-up data from the ongoing phase I study (n=21) of its chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy candidate- bb2121. The open-label phase I CRB-401 study is evaluating the preliminary safety and efficacy of bb2121 in patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma. The study also aims to identify a dose to use in phase II studies.
So far this year, bluebird’s shares have skyrocketed 227%, compared with the industry’s gain of 3%.
As of the cutoff date of Oct 2, 2017, 21 patients had been enrolled patients and dosed in the dose-escalation phase of the study in four dose cohorts. The patients in the study were heavily pre-treated and had failed on a median of seven prior lines.
Of the 18 patients in the active dose cohorts of the study, 94% achieved an objective response (OR). 56% patients achieved a complete response compared with the CR rate of 27% as shown in the data released at ASCO in June this year. The increase in CR rate from the previous update led to the increase in share price.
The study also showed that nine out of ten (90%) of patients evaluable for minimal residual disease (MRD) status were found to be MRD-negative. The study did not reach the median progression free survival (PFS) with median follow up of 40 weeks in active dose cohorts. These encouraging data and the deepening response showed by bb2121 in the study bode well for the candidate and if approved can prove to be a groundbreaking CAR-T therapy in multiple myeloma.
However bluebird’s competitor Juno Therapeutics, Inc. released additional data from the TRANSCEND phase I study on its CAR-T candidate JCAR017 (in patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The TRANSCEND trial demonstrated that in a high risk patient population, 74% of patients achieved an overall response rate while and 68% achieved CR rate at 3 months.
We also note that another company Gilead Sciences Inc.’s (GILD - Free Report) CAR-T therapy, Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), was approved by the FDA in October for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Yescarta is the first CAR-T therapy approved by the FDA for this indication.
We also note that Novartis breakthrough gene transfer treatment, Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) received FDA approval for the treatment of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is refractory or in second or later relapse.
bluebird bio, Inc. Price
bluebird bio, Inc. Price | bluebird bio, Inc. Quote
Zacks Rank
bluebird carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>