Bluebird's not looking to break speed records with its first gene therapy launch

Bluebird Bio’s gene therapy to treat transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT), Zynteglo, is expected to be approved soon in Europe, but investors shouldn’t expect an aggressive rollout there. That was the main takeaway from the company’s analyst confab Thursday in New York.

“This innovation curve that we’re on is super-steep,” said Bluebird CEO Nick Leschly toward the start of the meeting, as he flipped to a slide showing a roller coaster, “and we’re trying to figure that out.”