First gene therapy to treat rare blood disease nears European approval

The first gene therapy to treat a rare blood disorder is one step closer to approval Friday following a recommendation by European officials.

Lentiglobin, the gene therapy for beta-thalassemia developed by Cambridge, Mass.-based Bluebird Bio, was recommended for approval by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the drug-reviewing arm of the European Medicines Agency.