ALLENDALE, NJ., USA and MUNICH, Germany, May 11, 2020 / B3C newswire / -- Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions, LLC (HCATS) and apceth Biopharma GmbH (apceth), both subsidiaries of Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. (Hitachi Chemical) today announced that they have expanded their relationship with bluebird bio (NASDAQ: BLUE) with long-term development and manufacturing services agreements for clinical and commercial supply for multiple therapies, including:

These agreements are the latest in a long-standing partnership between bluebird bio and Hitachi Chemical. In 2011, HCATS, which represents the North America region of Hitachi Chemicals global regenerative medicine business, and bluebird bio entered into their first clinical services agreement. A commercial drug product manufacturing service agreement was also established between bluebird bio and apceth (which represents the Europe region of Hitachi Chemicals global regenerative medicine business) in 2016. In January 2020, apceth announced its readiness to begin commercial manufacturing of ZYNTEGLO with bluebirds announcement of the launch in Germany.

"With three products in our severe genetic disease franchise to potentially launch between now and 2022, securing long-term commercial drug product manufacturing capacity is critical to our ability to deliver for patients, " said Nick Leschly, chief bluebird. "Our partnership with Hitachi Chemical is a significant example of our continued progress on this front and we believe Hitachi Chemicals recent expansion will help support our growing commercial needs. We are pleased to benefit from their expertise as well as their footprint in both the US and Europe as we work to bring transformative therapies to patients in need."

We are excited to partner with bluebird bio through our new U.S. facility, utilizing our state-of-the-art capabilities and systems for late-stage clinical testing and ultimately commercial production once all applicable regulatory approvals are granted, said Robert Preti, Ph.D., Chief Strategy Officer, Hitachi Chemical Life Science Business Headquarters. It is our honor to support bluebird bio in the manufacture of their potentially transformative gene therapies, to the benefit of patients in both the United States and Europe, as the foundation for our collaboration to address this devastating disease

We are very happy to deepen our trustful and productive strategic partnership with bluebird bio, commented Dr. Christine Guenther, Deputy General Manager of the Hitachi Chemical Regenerative Medicine Business Sector and CEO of apceth Biopharma GmbH. The apceth team is proud to be part of bluebird bios most exciting pioneering work for the advancement of cell and gene therapies and to supply patients suffering from severe genetic illnesses with potentially life-changing treatments.

This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring.

About Hitachi Chemicals Regenerative Medicine BusinessHitachi Chemical provides cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services at current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) standards, including clinical manufacturing, commercial manufacturing, and manufacturing development. The global footprint of the business is over 200,000 square feet and includes operations in North America (Allendale, New Jersey and Mountain View, California), Europe (Munich, Germany), and Japan (Yokohama). The business leverages two decades of experience exclusively focused on the cell therapy industry.

For more information on North America services, please visit http://www.pctcelltherapy.comFor more information on Europe services, please visit http://www.apceth.comFor more information on Japan services, please visit http://www.hitachi-chem.co.jp/english

Contacts

Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics SolutionsEric PowersDirector, Marketing and CommunicationsThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

apceth Biopharma GmbHAlmut WindhagerManager, Business Development and CommunicationsThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Keywords: Humans; Regenerative Medicine; Thalassemia; HLA Antigens; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Genetic Therapy

Published by B3C newswire and shared through Newronic

Continue reading here:

Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions and apceth Biopharma GmbH Enter into Strategic Clinical and Commercial Manufacturing Agreements with...