NIH's RAC wants delayed bluebird trial

bluebird bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) sank $11.58 to $175.05 in early after-hours trading Tuesday following postmarket news that NIH's Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee wants the company to delay a pediatric trial of gene therapy LentiGlobin BB305 by one to two years. The recommendation followed RAC's review of bluebird's protocol for the HGB-208 trial to treat beta-thalassemia major in pediatric patients.

bluebird said in an emailed statement that its protocol for the similarly designed HGB-207 trial in adult and adolescent patients "was supported by the RAC without comment." ...