Bluebird is an important company in gene therapy’s reemergence. The company’s progress developing treatments for rare genetic diseases early last decade helped boost confidence in gene therapy at a time when the field was still recovering from setbacks. Now, gene therapy is a fast-growing field, with many publicly traded companies, a handful of approved products and dozens of startups raising record levels of investment from venture investors.
But Bluebird has had a bumpy ride since debuting as a public company in 2013. Shares swung wildly over the years amid various clinical delays and manufacturing setbacks, while competition from newer gene editing technologies dimmed the outlook for some of its treatments. At less than $30 per share, Bluebird’s stock currently trades at levels not recorded for eight years.
The approval of Skysona reflects Bluebird’s up-and-down story. It’s a scientific achievement, making Bluebird the first company with two marketed gene replacement therapies. (The company also successfully developed an genetically engineered cell therapy called Abecma for the blood cancer multiple myeloma. Others have multiple cell therapies approved.) READ MORE
By Ben Fidler
Source: biopharmadive.com
CureVac and the University of Texas’s MD Anderson Cancer Center have announced a co-development and licensing agreement to develop novel messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based cancer vaccines. The strategic collaboration will focus on the development of differentiated cancer vaccine candidates in selected haematological and solid tumour indications with high unmet medical needs.
FUJIFILM Corporation is planning to invest $1.2 billion to expand the planned FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina, US. This news follows the organisation’s announcement of a $2 billion investment in the facility in March 2021. This additional financial boost totals the investment to over $3.2 billion, FUJIFILM confirmed.
Sanofi’s global restructuring and downsizing is now fully underway, with layoffs stretching to the company’s Belgian offices. Belgian newspaper De Tijd reports that 67 employees have been laid off at a site in Ghent and 32 jobs are on the chopping block at Sanofi’s Belgium HQ in Diegem.
