Regeneron invests in bluebird bio under a T-cell therapies collaboration

With the aim of expanding their horizon in oncology with a new set of T cell receptor targets, the USA’s Regeneron Pharmaceutical (Nasdaq: REGN) has struck a deal with fellow biotech bluebird bio (Nasdaq: BLUE), including taking an equity position, with the news sending the latter’s shares up 3.83% to $155.75 by mid-morning today.

Under the collaboration, the companies will apply their respective technology platforms to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel immune cell therapies for cancer. The collaborators will specifically leverage Regeneron’s VelociSuite  platform technologies for the discovery and characterization of fully-human antibodies, as well as T cell receptors (TCRs) directed against tumor-specific proteins and peptides, and bluebird bio will contribute its field-leading expertise in gene transfer and cell therapy.

$100 million investment in bluebird bio shares