CRSP - Will Vertex's Sickle Cell Gambit Sink bluebird bio's Stock?
Last week, Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) announced that it would pay CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) a whopping $900 million to take more control of the duo's gene therapy collaboration, CTX001. CTX001 is being investigated as a potentially curative treatment for severe sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, a rare blood disorder. bluebird bio (NASDAQ: BLUE) is hoping that two of its most mature gene therapies, LentiGlobin and beti-cel, could treat the same two conditions.
Beti-cel is already on the market in the EU for beta thalassemia, but Bluebird is still facing a slew of problems in the U.S. and in major European markets. Even before the recent difficulties, investors have been fleeing its stock for years. Will Vertex's new strategy push Bluebird's stock further into decline, or is Bluebird's lead in the clinic durable enough to deliver a substantial first-to-market advantage?
Image source: Getty Images
For further details see:
Will Vertex's Sickle Cell Gambit Sink bluebird bio's Stock?