In addition to granting the beti-cel BLA priority review, the FDA previously granted beti-cel Orphan Drug status and Breakthrough Therapy designation. bluebird bio is eligible to receive a priority review voucher upon potential approval of beti-cel.
Beta-thalassemia is a severe genetic blood disease caused by mutations in the beta-globin gene and is characterized by significantly reduced or absent adult hemoglobin production. This can result in severe anemia and lifelong dependence on red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. Patients who require regular RBC transfusions to maintain adequate Hb levels typically undergo the 4-7-hour process every 2-5 weeks. While transfusions temporarily relieve symptoms associated with severe anemia, including fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath, they do not address the underlying genetic cause of beta-thalassemia and can lead to unavoidable iron overload and serious complications, including progressive multi-organ damage and organ failure. Iron overload resulting from beta-thalassemia or ongoing RBC transfusions requires chronic treatment with chelation therapy; even with chelation therapy, some patients remain significantly iron overloaded, and only 63% of patients are adherent, due in part to tolerability issues. Despite advances in treatment and improved transfusion techniques, people with beta-thalassemia who require regular transfusions have an increased risk for morbidity and mortality.
Adverse reactions considered related to beti-cel were infrequent and consisted primarily of non-serious infusion-related reactions that occurred on the day of infusion (e.g., abdominal pain, hot flush, dyspnea, tachycardia and non-cardiac chest pain) and cytopenias (e.g., thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and neutropenia). One of these adverse reactions was a serious adverse event (SAE) of thrombocytopenia considered possibly related to beti-cel and has resolved.
The majority of AEs and SAEs in the beti-cel clinical development program were unrelated to beti-cel and largely reflect the known side effects of HSC collection and busulfan conditioning regimen (including several SAEs of veno-occlusive disease that resolved with treatment).
The Phase 3 Northstar-2 (HGB-207) and Northstar-3 (HGB-212) studies evaluating beti-cel are ongoing; enrollment is complete, and all patients have been treated. bluebird bio is also conducting a long-term follow-up study, LTF-303, to monitor safety and efficacy for people who have participated in bluebird bio-sponsored beti-cel clinical studies through 15 years post-treatment.
With a dedicated focus on severe genetic diseases, bluebird has industry-leading clinical and research programs for sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia and cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy and is advancing research to apply new technologies to these and other diseases. We custom design each of our therapies to address the underlying cause of disease and have developed in-depth and effective analytical methods to understand the safety of our lentiviral vector technologies and drive the field of gene therapy forward.
TDT is a severe genetic disease caused by mutations in the β-globin gene that result in reduced or significantly reduced hemoglobin (Hb). In order to survive, people with TDT require chronic blood transfusions to maintain adequate Hb levels. These transfusions carry the risk of progressive multi-organ damage due to unavoidable iron overload.
Prior to beti-cel infusion, all patients were on iron chelation, which is needed to reduce excess iron caused by chronic blood transfusions. Of the 40 patients who achieved TI following treatment with beti-cel, 73% (29/40) restarted iron chelation after beti-cel infusion and the majority (59%, 17/29) of patients who restarted iron chelation after infusion have since stopped; and 28% (11/40) were able to receive phlebotomy (blood removal), which is a preferred method for iron reduction. Of the 11 patients who were able to receive phlebotomy, 10 have not received phlebotomy in more than seven months and their total unsupported Hb at last study visit ranged from 10.5 to 14.0 g/dL.
No drug-related adverse events (AEs) were reported in the long-term follow-up study. Serious AEs during LTF-303 unrelated to beti-cel included gonadotropic insufficiency, ectopic pregnancy, gall bladder wall thickening/polyp, bacteremia, neutropenia, cholelithiasis, diabetic ketoacidosis, pulmonary embolism, fetal death (as a result of a miscarriage) and major depression (n=1 for each).
In exploratory analyses, biomarkers of ineffective erythropoiesis trended toward normal over time in patients who achieved TI, supporting the disease-modifying potential of beti-cel in patients with TDT; additionally, biomarkers of hemolysis normalized in patients who achieved TI.
The treatment regimen, comprising mobilization/apheresis, conditioning and beti-cel infusion, has a safety profile consistent with the known effects of mobilization with G-CSF and plerixafor and myeloablation with single-agent busulfan.
The median baseline score for 18 patients who achieved TI was 79.90 (range, 47.83-97.83; n=18) on the PedsQL-4.0; healthy children reach scores of approximately 84. At 24 months, improvement in quality of life was approximately three-fold higher than the minimal clinically significant meaningful difference (MCMD, a change between 4.30 and 4.83 points) as measured by the PedsQL-4.0. Improvements were more pronounced in patients with more severe scores at baseline, showing greater than five-fold higher improvements over the MCMD.
beti-cel is manufactured using the BB305 lentiviral vector (LVV), a third-generation, self-inactivating LVV. The promoter, a regulatory element of the LVV that controls the expression of the transgene, selected for BB305 is a cellular (non-viral) promoter that drives gene expression only in the erythroid lineage cells (red blood cells and their precursors).
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. For details, please see the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC).
On April 28, 2020, the EMA renewed the CMA for beti-cel. The CMA for beti-cel is valid in the 27 member states of the EU as well as the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. In November 2020, bluebird bio submitted to the EMA an application for the second renewal of the CMA. This procedure is currently on hold while the EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) reviews the safety of ZYNTEGLO. The CMA is valid while the renewal application review is ongoing by the regulatory agency.
bluebird bio is on track to complete its rolling Biologics License Application (BLA) submission to the FDA for beti-cel in mid-2021. This submission is anticipated to include adults, adolescents and children with transfusion dependent β-thalassemia across all genotypes (including non-β0/β0 genotypes and β0/β0 genotypes). Beti-cel is not approved in the U.S.
Benjamin Beaudet, General Manager of beti states : After having experimented with the first generation of Arma shuttles and having seen all the progress in the areas of operability of the second generation EVO, we are very happy to continue our collaboration with Navya with the acquisition of this shuttle. This change of vehicle allows us to move from experimentation to service pilots and will allow us to test our operation of future beti automated mobility networks.
beti will deploy this EVO shuttle as well as others to come as part of the RIMA project supported by France 2030, which aims to develop an Inclusive Network of Automated Mobility in the rural Crest & Val de Drme area. As a reminder, as part of the RIMA project announced in November 2022, beti, Navya, Macif and Vinci Construction aim to deploy 7 autonomous vehicles, 4 of which will have no operator on board. For the first time, the partners will deploy Bluebus Autonom vehicles equipped with the Navya Pack and the Navya Drive and Navya Operate software bricks.
With already 2 Arma shuttles and several deployments to its credit, beti is a French operator highly committed to the development of autonomous sustainable rural transport with a perfect knowledge and understanding of the field. Together with Navya, they form a solid partnership to develop technologies and services that meet the needs of the market..
We are proud to have customers who support us over the long term and who contribute to the development of our technologies. With beti, we are already preparing the very first deployments of the Bluebus Autonom. The RIMA project will combine EVO autonomous shuttles and Bluebus Autonom on a 50 km2 route that integrates perfectly with existing road infrastructures.
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TEL AVIV, Israel - Beti, a cloud-based construction site management software specializing in safety, labor management and quality assurance solutions, which aim to boost onsite productivity, today announced an $11 million strategic growth investment round led by PSG, a leading growth equity firm partnering with software and technology-enabled services companies to help accelerate their growth, with participation from 97212 Ventures.
Beti is an advanced, cloud-based platform designed to allow construction companies to easily and efficiently supervise and coordinate workflows and worker safety on the site. It rapidly grew and developed into an extensive platform with various tools and features, which help to enable construction managers to streamline their work processes. Based on cutting-edge Israeli technology, Beti aims to save time and money allowing its customers to access, manage, and oversee their projects in every aspect, from nearly any device. Beti was founded in 2018 after its cofounders met while serving in an elite unit of the IDF and bonded over a shared passion for real estate and construction. Beti has offices in Tel Aviv and Brooklyn, New York. For additional information, please visit www.beti.tech.
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