Beam Therapeutics falls after patient death in early trial

Crispr Therapeutics AG

05/11/2024 15:39

** Shares of biotech firm Beam Therapeutics  BEAM.O  fall
3.30% to $23.56
    ** A patient with sickle cell disease has died due to
respiratory failure in an early-to-mid stage trial of company's
CRISPR-based cell therapy, BEAM-101, according to an abstract
    ** Respiratory failure was likely related to conditioning of
a chemotherapy called busulfan, which is used to prepare
patients for infusion
    ** The death occurred four months after infusion
    ** Company says eight patients have been dosed with BEAM-101
    ** "While the patient death is unfortunate, we see the event
as highlighting the need for less-toxic preconditioning options"
- William Blair
    ** Vertex  VRTX.O  and CRISPR Therapeutics'  CRSP.BN 
Casgevy and bluebird bio's  BLUE.O  Lyfgenia is approved for the
treatment of sickle cell disease, which is a group of inherited
blood disorders
    ** BEAM's Q3 net loss was $96.7 million, or $1.17 per share,
compared with $96.1 million, or $1.22 per share, a year ago
    ** BEAM stock down ~15% YTD

 (Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru)
 ((Sriparna.Roy@thomsonreuters.com;))