Date: 2018-03-28
Type of information: Development agreement
Compound: product candidates targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) including bb2121 and bb21217
Company: Celgene (USA - NJ) Bluebird bio (USA - MA)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: collaboration - development
Action mechanism: cell therapy/gene therapy/CAR-T cell therapy.
Disease: multiple myeloma
Details:
- • On June 3, 2015, bluebird bio announced that its existing global collaboration agreement with Celgene has been amended and restated to focus on developing product candidates targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) during a three-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.
Financial terms:
- 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 1 studies.Additionally, 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 United States. 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.
Latest news:
- • On March 28, 2018, bluebird bio and Celgene announced that the companies have entered into an agreement to co-develop and co-promote bb2121, an investigational anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for the potential treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in the United States. The companies originally entered into a broad, global strategic research collaboration in 2013 to discover, develop and commercialize novel therapies in oncology, which included bb2121.
- For bb2121, bluebird and Celgene have joint responsibility for development, manufacturing and commercialization in the United States. Celgene will assume sole responsibility for drug product manufacturing and commercialization outside the United States.
- bluebird bio and Celgene are also working together on a second clinical-stage anti-BCMA CAR T program, bb21217.
- • On September 28, 2017, bluebird bio announced that Celgene has exercised its option to exclusively license bb21217, under the terms of the collaboration between the two companies. The bluebird bio and Celgene collaboration focuses on developing product candidates targeting BCMA for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma. By exercising its exclusive option under the terms of the collaboration, Celgene will be responsible for worldwide development and commercialization of bb21217 after Phase 1. bluebird bio is responsible for the development of bb21217 through the completion of the CRB-402 Phase 1 study and has an option to share in the development, promotion and profits in the United States. bluebird bio will receive a $15 million option exercise payment from Celgene, and bluebird bio is also eligible to receive specified development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments and royalty payments on net sales.
- • On February 17, 2016, bluebird bio announced treatment of the first patient in a Phase 1 study of its product candidate bb2121 in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Celgene has exercised its option to exclusively license bb2121, under the terms of the collaboration agreement between the two companies.By exercising its exclusive option under the terms of the agreement, Celgene will be responsible for worldwide development and commercialization of bb2121 after Phase 1. bluebird bio is responsible for the development of bb2121 through the completion of the CRB-401 Phase 1 study and has an option to share in the development, promotion and profits in the United States. bluebird bio will receive a $10 million option exercise payment from Celgene, and bluebird bio is also eligible to receive specified development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments and royalty payments on net sales.
Is general: Yes
