Two years ago, when Lenti-D and LentiGlobin were still its lead product candidates, I viewed bluebird bio (BLUE) as industry leader in the development of gene therapy for the hereditary anemias, beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (see here and here). That was when gene therapy expert Philip Gregory left Sangamo (SGMO) to become CSO at bluebird. Bluebird scientific founder Philippe Leboulch had a long track record of publications in scientific journals, and I was hoping that Dr. Gregory would move forward the research on gene replacement therapy, a Herculean task, with comparable success.
Deserting Your First Love To Run With The Crowd
While trials on Lentiglobin have continued, recruitment has been less than robust: 7 patients treated in HGB-205 including 3 with sickle cell anemia as of 6/23/17 compared to 3 reported two years prior at 6/15 EHA meeting; 3 treated in the 1st half-year of enrollment of non-?o/?o thalassemia patients into HGB-207. Here is a snap shot from the 6/23/17 investor presentation for EHA.
