Bayer’s BlueRock Therapeutics establishes European site for cell therapy innovation
Establishment of BlueRock site in Berlin expands company’s footprint and strengthens Bayer’s cell therapy capabilities
Bayer AG announced that BlueRock Therapeutics LP (BlueRock), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Bayer AG, has established a new site for cell therapy innovation on Bayer’s campus in Berlin, Germany. This move comes as part of the company’s focused growth strategy. While operating independently, the team at BlueRock will benefit from the expertise of various teams at Bayer to enable the expansion and acceleration of the company’s clinical trials to Europe. BlueRock recently closed enrollment for a Phase I clinical trial for BRT-DA01, its novel cell therapy for treating Parkinson’s disease, and intends to initiate a global non-interventional study for Parkinson’s patients in the second half of 2022.
The acceleration of the development of cell therapies in BlueRock’s pipeline, with initial focus on the ongoing BRT-DA01 clinical trial in Parkinson’s disease (symbolic image).
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“Today’s announcement is a significant step forward in advancing our leadership in cell therapies globally. Establishing a presence for BlueRock in Europe offers the opportunity to strengthen our collaboration, with the ultimate goal to deliver cell therapies with transformational potential,” said Stefan Oelrich, Member of the Board of Management, Bayer AG and President of Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division. “We look forward to seeing BlueRock thrive and accelerate the growth of the company. Together we will translate pioneering science into tangible therapies for patients.”
A multidisciplinary BlueRock team will be set up during 2022 to provide clinical development and operational support for Europe, including chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC). The team will expand as the company’s growing pipeline of innovative cell therapies for treating patients with neurological, immunological, cardiovascular and ophthalmic diseases progresses. The co-location of the companies’ teams in Berlin will enable BlueRock to leverage Bayer’s global reach and know-how in areas such as regulatory affairs, clinical development, and commercialization. With the establishment of its new site, BlueRock significantly broadens its geographical footprint, with presence in the US, Canada, and now Europe.
“We are excited to expand our operations to Europe,” said Seth Ettenberg, President and CEO of BlueRock Therapeutics. “The establishment of a site in Europe is an important milestone in our growth strategy that will enable us to extend the reach of our advancing pipeline of novel cell therapies to patients globally.”
Bayer and BlueRock share a commitment to developing new therapies to treat devastating diseases in areas of high unmet medical need. Since the inception of BlueRock in 2016 by Versant Ventures and Bayer AG, the company has grown from a pre-clinical start-up to a clinical-stage company with sites in the United States, Canada and now Europe. As a foundational element of Bayer’s cell and gene therapy strategy, the expansion of BlueRock’s geographical presence strengthens Bayer’s capabilities in cell therapies and as a driver of new technologies worldwide.
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