FDA Approves Celgene's and Acceleron's Reblozyl to Treat Rare Blood Disorder

   By Stephen Nakrosis 
 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday said it granted approval to Reblozyl to treat some anemia patients.

Celgene Corp. (CELG) and Acceleron Pharma Inc. (XLRN) are jointly developing Reblozyl as part of a global collaboration, the companies said.

The FDA said it was the first therapy to treat patients anemia patients with beta thalassemia who require regular red blood cell transfusions.

Beta thalassemia, or "Cooley's anemia," is a blood disorder that reduces the production of hemoglobin in red blood cells, the FDA said.

"Today's approval is an important milestone and underscores our continued commitment to patients with hematology disorders," said Nadim Ahmed, President, Global Hematology and Oncology for Celgene. "There are very limited options for patients living with anemia due to beta thalassemia who are dependent on long term red blood cell transfusions."

Habib Dable, president and chief executive of Acceleron, said, "We're thrilled that Acceleron's first approved medicine is one with the potential to help patients with beta thalassemia, who have been in need of new treatments for this lifelong disease."

--Write to Stephen Nakrosis at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 08, 2019 13:05 ET (18:05 GMT)

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