E Bluebid Bio Shares Fall 4.3% After Gene Therapy Update

Shares of Bluebird Bio (BLUE) fell 4.3% today after the company announced that one patient on its old-generation gene therapy required two blood transfusions due to anemia, after 7 years being transfusion-free. This news spooked investors with the implication that gene therapy may not last, causing the fall  today. More specifically the patient being discussed was one who was treated back in 2007 using Bluebird Bio’s old generation gene therapy — HPV569. 

What investors should note is that HPV569 is no longer in use, and was the company’s first generation gene therapy. That therapy is not as good at developing hemoglobins for Beta Thalassemia as the company’s new generation gene therapy known as BB305. Despite this info investors seemed to dump shares first and ask questions later. 

There is no way to know for sure if the new gene therapy by Bluebird Bio will hold up for more than 7 years in helping Beta Thalassemia patients. What we do know is that BB305 has already shown to be more potent than the company’s first generation gene therapy treatment. We believe that once investors have time to digest the data shown today they will act accordingly. Today’s drop seems to have been a knee-jerk reaction to take profits on this one time event. 

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Author: Travis Esquivel

Travis Esquivel is an engineer, passionate soccer player and full-time dad. He enjoys writing about innovation and technology from time to time.

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