bluebird bio, Inc. has completed the first commercial cell collection for LYFGENIA (lovotibeglogene autotemcel), a one-time gene therapy for the treatment of sickle cell disease in patients with a history of vaso-occlusive events. LYFGENIA was approved by the FDA in December 2023.

“Seeing people living with sickle cell disease receive gene therapy in the real world is a vision that has fueled bluebird for more than 10 years,” said Andrew Obenshain, president and CEO, bluebird bio. “This historic moment comes nearly a century after sickle cell disease was the first genetic disorder to be characterized at the molecular level, and almost a decade after bluebird initiated clinical development for LYFGENIA. We are grateful to the patients, caregivers, researchers, and clinicians whose work made this milestone possible, and look forward to continued partnership with the sickle cell disease community.”

The patient’s cells were collected at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, which is part of bluebird’s national network of more than 60 Qualified Treatment Centers (QTCs). QTCs are selected based on leading expertise in transplant, cell and gene therapy, and sickle cell disease and receive specialized training to administer LYFGENIA.