Kite Collaborates with bluebird bio to Develop T-Cell Therapy Products

Kite Pharma announced on June 22, 2015 that it would collaborate with bluebird bio to co-develop and co-commercialize second-generation T-cell receptor (TCR) product candidates. Bluebird focuses on rare diseases, gene therapy, cancer immunotherapy, and gene editing. The products will be “directed against the human papillomavirus type 16 E6 (HPV-16 E6) oncoprotein incorporating gene editing and lentiviral technologies,” according to a press release.

As part of the agreement, the companies will develop and commercialize the new products jointly. Kite will lead the program in the US, while bluebird bio will have the option to lead the program in the EU. Companies will share all costs and profits accrued from the product candidates. The program was designed to incorporate gene editing to modify certain genes to enhance T cell function in TCR product candidates directed against the HPV-16 E6 oncoprotein. The collaboration will not affect Kite’s existing TCR programs directed against high-risk HPV, which includes HPV-16 E6 TCR, currently in Phase I study.

Source: Kite Pharma