European Medicines Agency Approves Refined Commercial Manufacturing Specifications for ZYNTEGLO™

First gene therapy for patients 12 years and older with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia who do not have a β⁰/β⁰ genotype now available to be manufactured in the European Union

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–bluebird bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLUE) announced today that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the refined commercial drug product manufacturing specifications for ZYNTEGLO™ (autologous CD34+ cells encoding β^A-T87Q-globin gene), a one-time gene therapy for patients 12 years and older with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) who do not have a β⁰/β⁰ genotype, for whom hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is appropriate but a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched related HSC donor is not available.

“We look forward to serving TDT patients with ZYNTEGLO and providing a treatment option that offers the possibility of a transfusion-free future,” said Alison Finger, chief commercial officer, bluebird bio. “This is one step along the commercial journey as we advance our ongoing launch and market access activities on a country-by-country basis, with the goal of enrolling our first commercial patient in 2019.”

The refined commercial drug product specifications support the efficacy and safety profile of ZYNTEGLO and will give patients the best opportunity for clinically meaningful outcomes consistent with the results that were foundational to the conditional marketing authorization in the European Union. ZYNTEGLO addresses the underlying genetic cause of TDT and offers patients the potential to become transfusion independent, which once achieved is expected to be life-long.

“These are exciting times also for apceth, as we are now in the final stages of preparing to manufacture a cell-based gene therapy for commercial use,” commented Dr. Christine Guenther, CEO of apceth Biopharma. “We are proud to be the commercial manufacturing partner of bluebird bio and to be part of bringing this potentially life-changing therapy to TDT patients in Europe.”

Data Supporting Clinical Profile of ZYNTEGLO

The conditional marketing authorization is supported by efficacy, safety and durability data from the Phase 1/2 HGB-205 study and the completed Phase 1/2 Northstar (HGB-204) study as well as available data from the ongoing Phase 3 Northstar-2 (HGB-207) and Northstar-3 (HGB-212) studies, and the long-term follow-up study LTF-303, as of the data cut off of December 13, 2018.

Non-serious adverse events (AEs) observed during clinical trials that were attributed to ZYNTEGLO were hot flush, dyspnoea, abdominal pain, pain in extremities and non-cardiac chest pain. One serious adverse event (SAE) of thrombocytopenia was considered possibly related to ZYNTEGLO.

Additional AEs observed in clinical studies were consistent with the known side effects of HSC collection and bone marrow ablation with busulfan, including SAEs of veno-occlusive disease. At last follow up all patients treated with ZYNTEGLO in the clinical trial program remain alive.

For details, please see the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). ZYNTEGLO has received a conditional marketing authorization in the European Union and is not approved in the United States.

ZYNTEGLO continues to be evaluated in the ongoing Phase 3 Northstar-2 and Northstar-3 studies and the long-term follow-up study LTF-303.

About bluebird bio, Inc.

bluebird bio is pioneering gene therapy with purpose. From our Cambridge, Mass., headquarters, we’re developing gene therapies for severe genetic diseases and cancer, with the goal that people facing potentially fatal conditions with limited treatment options can live their lives fully. Beyond our labs, we’re working to positively disrupt the healthcare system to create access, transparency and education so that gene therapy can become available to all those who can benefit.

bluebird bio is a human company powered by human stories. We’re putting our care and expertise to work across a spectrum of disorders by researching cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, sickle cell disease, transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia and multiple myeloma using three gene therapy technologies: gene addition, cell therapy and (megaTAL-enabled) gene editing.

bluebird bio has additional nests in Seattle, Wash.; Durham, N.C.; and Zug, Switzerland. For more information, visit bluebirdbio.com.

Follow bluebird bio on social media: @bluebirdbio, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

ZYNTEGLO, LentiGlobin and Lenti-D are trademarks of bluebird bio, Inc.

The full common name for ZYNTEGLO: A genetically modified autologous CD34+ cell enriched population that contains hematopoietic stem cells transduced with lentiviral vector encoding the β^A-T87Q-globin gene.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements the company’s commercialization plans and expectations for ZYNTEGLO. Any forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that we will encounter challenges in the commercial launch of ZYNTEGLO in the European Union, including in managing our complex supply chain for the delivery of drug product, in the adoption of value-based payment models or in obtaining sufficient coverage or reimbursement for our product. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause our actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Form 10-Q, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and bluebird bio undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

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