BioCentury
ARTICLE | Clinical News

bluebird starts first cancer trial, Celgene opts in

February 18, 2016 2:44 AM UTC

bluebird bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) started a Phase I trial of bb2121, its first clinical cancer program, and said Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ:CELG) exercised an exclusive option to license worldwide rights to the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy targeting human TNF receptor superfamily member 17 ( BCMA; TNFRSF17; CD269).

The open-label, Phase I CRB-401 trial is evaluating bb2121 to treat relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). bb2121 comprises autologous T cells transduced ex vivo with an anti-BCMA02 CAR lentiviral vector. ...