Bluebird bio announced that based on the analyses, it is very unlikely the Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reaction (SUSAR) of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) reported in its Phase 1/2 (HGB-206) study of LentiGlobin gene therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD) was related to the BB305 lentiviral vector (LVV). Chief scientific officer reported that the integration site for the vector identified within the gene VAMP4, fact have confirmed by multiple independent analyses. VAMP4, has no known association with the development of AML nor with processes such as cellular proliferation or genome stability and also the insertion into the VAMP4 gene has had no impact on gene expression or gene regulation nor caused any disruption of nearby genes. Given this, the company has initiated engagement with regulators to begin the process of resuming clinical studies for sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. More info: Bluebird bio press release.

Genomics and Personalized Medicine for all through Artificial Intelligence in Haematological Diseases (GenoMed4ALL) is a joint initiative selected and granted by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme. GenoMed4All will develop a secure and private data sharing platform based on Federated Learning for the pooling of genomic, clinical data and other high-throughput data. The ultimate goal is to unleash the power of novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) models to advance research in personalised medicine for haematological diseases, combining already-established clinical-pathological parameters with advanced genomic profiling to create innovative diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic strategies.

GenoMed4All will develop 3 application cases covering common and rare oncological (Myelodysplastic syndromes and Multiple Myeloma) and non-oncological (Sickle Cell Disease) haematological diseases. AI solutions will be implemented to enhance the diagnostic capacity, assess treatment options and predict disease outcomes. GenoMed4All’s Federated Learning will seize the power of High Performance Computing facilities and key EU networks like ERN-EuroBloodNet, pooling resources from hospital registries, data processing tools, and pre-existing repositories to support clinical research and decision making. 

More information: GenoMed4All press release

Bluebird bio announced the temporary suspension of its clinical studies of LentiGlobin gene therapy (autologous CD34+ cells encoding βA-T87Q-globin gene) for sickle cell disease (SCD) (bb111) after receiving reports of a suspected unexpected serious adverse reaction (SUSAR) of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This is the second patient with SCD, also treated with LentiGlobin, to be diagnosed with AML in a short period of time. These reports are currently under investigation and no link to the LentiGlobin gene therapy has been yet established. Although no cases of hematologic malignancy have been reported in any patient treated with the LentiGlobin gene therapy for transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia (licensed as ZYNTEGLO in the European Union and the United Kingdom), but since it is the same BB305 lentiviral vector used in the LentiGlobin gene therapy for SCD, the company also temporarily suspended marketing of its authorized gene therapy ZYNTEGLO while the AML case is assessed. More info: Bluebird bio press release

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recently granted the designation of orphan drug to two pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD); FT-4202 (Forma Therapeutics) and ARU-1801 (Aruvant). FT-4202 is a novel selective red blood cell (RBC) pyruvate kinase-R (PKR) activator designed to be a disease-modifying therapy for the treatment of SCD. The end result of this therapy is to increase haemoglobin levels in order to improve RBC health and function, and to decrease painful vaso-occlusive crises. Forma is currently enrolling patients with SCD in a randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase 1 study to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of FT-4202 (NCT03815695), and plans to initiate a global registrational Phase 2/3 trial with FT-4202 in the first quarter of 2021. ARU-1801 is an investigational lentiviral gene therapy that aims to restore normal RBC function through increased levels of foetal haemoglobin in adult patients. Preliminary clinical data from the Phase 1/2 MOMENTUM study demonstrates that ARU-1801 can achieve durable reductions in disease burden with a reduced intensity conditioning regimen. The FDA previously granted Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease Designations to both FT-4202 and ARU-1801 for the treatment of patients with SCD. More info: Forma press release, Aruvant press release