FDA lifts hold on Bellicum’s adjunct T cell therapy

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:BLCM) gained $1.74 (25%) to $8.59 in after-hours trading Wednesday after FDA lifted a clinical hold on U.S. trials of the company’s adjunct, safety switch-containing T cell therapy BPX-501. FDA placed the hold in January after the company reported three cases of encephalopathy possibly related to the candidate (see BioCentury Extra, Jan. 31).

Bellicum will resume U.S. trials under amended protocols that incorporate guidance on monitoring and management of neurologic adverse events. FDA agreed to the amendments in February (see BioCentury Extra, Feb. 23)...