Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (GBT) (NASDAQ: GBT) today
announced that it is accepting proposals for the third annual
Access to Excellent Care for Sickle Cell Patients (ACCEL) Grant
Program, which provides funding to accelerate the development of
sustainable access-to-care programs for people living with sickle
cell disease (SCD). This year, the program is doubling the total
funding and number of grantees by awarding 10 grants worth up to
$50,000 each. GBT will accept proposals from community-based
organizations and institutions with programs designed to make it
easier for patients to get SCD care and ensure that providers
deliver the highest quality care possible.
“GBT is driven by our mission to transform the lives of people
living with sickle cell disease, and we recognize, now more than
ever, that means increasing our support of the sickle cell
community,” said Jung E. Choi, chief business and strategy officer,
and head of patient advocacy and government affairs at GBT. “That
is why, this year, we are doubling our efforts to fund novel
programs that address the inequities people with sickle cell
disease face gaining access to high-quality, continuous healthcare,
as well as meeting the unique needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are proud of the work past grantees have accomplished and look
forward to supporting more organizations that are making a
difference in the lives of people with this devastating
disease.”
In previous years, the ACCEL program has selected and funded up
to $250,000 to five U.S. community-based organizations and
institutions serving patients with SCD and their families. With the
doubling of funds for 2021, this year’s priority areas for grant
proposals have expanded to include initiatives that address racial
equity and COVID-19 vaccine awareness amongst the SCD community.
Other priority areas include educational initiatives focused on
patient empowerment, shared decision-making and enabling navigation
of the healthcare system; improving transition from pediatric to
adult care; community outreach models using health workers to
directly facilitate access to care; and innovative training
programs and outreach models.
GBT is accepting proposals for the ACCEL program through Friday,
April 23, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. A panel of GBT
management and external stakeholders with expertise in the issues
affecting people with SCD will review proposal submissions. The
panel will select grant recipients based on the proposal’s goals
and objectives, potential impact and overall strength of the work
plan, timeline, evaluation plan and organizational capabilities.
More information about the ACCEL program and how to submit a
proposal can be found here.
About Sickle Cell DiseaseSickle cell disease
(SCD) affects an estimated 100,000 people in the United
States,1 an estimated 52,000 people in Europe,2 and
millions of people throughout the world, particularly among those
whose ancestors are from sub-Saharan Africa.1 It also affects
people of Hispanic, South Asian, Southern European and Middle
Eastern ancestry.1 SCD is a lifelong inherited rare blood
disorder that impacts hemoglobin, a protein carried by red blood
cells that delivers oxygen to tissues and organs throughout the
body.3 Due to a genetic mutation, individuals with SCD form
abnormal hemoglobin known as sickle hemoglobin. Through a process
called hemoglobin polymerization, red blood cells become sickled –
deoxygenated, crescent-shaped and rigid.3-5 The sickling
process causes hemolytic anemia (low hemoglobin due to red blood
cell destruction) and blockages in capillaries and small blood
vessels, which impede the flow of blood and oxygen throughout the
body. The diminished oxygen delivery to tissues and organs can lead
to life-threatening complications, including stroke and
irreversible organ damage.4-7
About Global Blood TherapeuticsGlobal
Blood Therapeutics (GBT) is a biopharmaceutical company
dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of
life-changing treatments that provide hope to underserved patient
communities. Founded in 2011, GBT is delivering on its goal to
transform the treatment and care of sickle cell disease (SCD), a
lifelong, devastating inherited blood disorder. The company has
introduced Oxbryta® (voxelotor) tablets, the first
FDA-approved treatment that directly inhibits sickle hemoglobin
polymerization, the root cause of red blood cell sickling in SCD.
GBT is also advancing its pipeline program in SCD with inclacumab,
a P-selectin inhibitor in development to address pain crises
associated with the disease, and GBT021601 (GBT601), the company’s
next generation hemoglobin S polymerization inhibitor. In addition,
GBT’s drug discovery teams are working on new targets to develop
the next wave of treatments for SCD. To learn more, please
visit www.gbt.com and follow the company on
Twitter @GBT_news.
Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in
this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including
statements containing the words “will,” “anticipates,” “plans,”
“believes,” “forecast,” “estimates,” “expects” and “intends,” or
similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on
GBT’s current expectations and actual results could differ
materially. Statements in this press release may include statements
that are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. GBT intends these forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding GBT’s priorities, dedication, commitment,
focus, goals, mission and vision; the ACCEL Grant Program,
including the related activities, priority areas and expectations;
safety, efficacy and mechanism of action of Oxbryta and other
product characteristics; significance of reducing hemolysis and
raising hemoglobin; commercialization, delivery, availability, use
and commercial and medical potential of Oxbryta; ongoing and
planned studies and related protocols, activities and expectations;
altering the treatment, course and care of SCD and transforming the
lives of people living with SCD; potential and advancement of GBT’s
pipeline, including inclacumab and other product candidates; and
working on new targets and discovering, developing and delivering
treatments, to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for
forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the
Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, and
GBT makes this statement for purposes of complying with those safe
harbor provisions. These forward-looking statements reflect GBT’s
current views about its plans, intentions, expectations, strategies
and prospects, which are based on the information currently
available to the company and on assumptions the company has made.
GBT can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations
or strategies will be attained or achieved, and, furthermore,
actual results may differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of
risks and factors that are beyond GBT’s control, including, without
limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to the COVID-19
pandemic, including the extent and duration of the impact on GBT’s
business, including commercialization activities, regulatory
efforts, research and development, corporate development activities
and operating results, which will depend on future developments
that are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted, such
as the ultimate duration of the pandemic, travel restrictions,
quarantines, social distancing and business closure requirements in
the U.S. and in other countries, and the effectiveness of
actions taken globally to contain and treat the disease; the risks
that GBT is continuing to establish its commercialization
capabilities and may not be able to successfully commercialize
Oxbryta; risks associated with GBT’s dependence on third parties
for development, manufacture, distribution and commercialization
activities related to Oxbryta; government and third-party payor
actions, including those relating to reimbursement and pricing;
risks and uncertainties relating to competitive products and other
changes that may limit demand for Oxbryta; the risks regulatory
authorities may require additional studies or data to support
continued commercialization of Oxbryta; the risks that drug-related
adverse events may be observed during commercialization or clinical
development; data and results may not meet regulatory requirements
or otherwise be sufficient for further development, regulatory
review or approval; compliance with obligations under the Pharmakon
loan; and the timing and progress of GBT’s and Syros’ research and
development activities under their collaboration; along with those
risks set forth in GBT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as discussions of
potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors in GBT’s
subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. Except as required by law, GBT assumes no obligation to
update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Sickle
Cell Disease
(SCD). https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/data.html.
Accessed June 3, 2019.
- European Medicines
Agency. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/orphan-designations/eu3182125.
Accessed June 12, 2020.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website.
Sickle Cell
Disease. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/sickle-cell-disease.
Accessed August 5, 2019.
- Rees DC, et al. Lancet. 2010;376(9757):2018-2031.
- Kato GJ, et al. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018;4:18010.
- Kato GJ, et al. J Clin Invest. 2017;127(3):750-760.
- Caboot JB, et al. Paediatr Respir Rev.
2014;15(1):17-23.
Contact:Steven
Immergut (media)650.410.3258simmergut@gbt.com
Courtney
Roberts (investors)650.351.7881croberts@gbt.com
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