Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (GBT) (NASDAQ: GBT) today announced
the appointment of Alexis A. Thompson, M.D., M.P.H., a
world-renowned hematologist and sickle cell disease (SCD) expert,
to the company’s board of directors. Dr. Thompson, who brings
decades of experience in clinical research, patient care,
leadership and advocacy in hematology, will serve on the board’s
research and development committee.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Alexis to our board as we continue to
pursue the transformation of care in sickle cell disease,” said Ted
W. Love, M.D., president and chief executive officer of GBT. “Her
deep expertise in blood disorders and her commitment to addressing
health equity will be invaluable as GBT continues to expand its
leadership both in the United States and globally. We look forward
to her extensive knowledge and innovative thought leadership that
will add to our board’s diverse backgrounds and breadth of
experience.”
A board-certified pediatric hematologist, Dr. Thompson is head
of the Hematology Section and director of the Comprehensive
Thalassemia Program at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s
Hospital of Chicago, where she also serves as the A. Watson and
Sarah Armour Endowed Chair for Childhood Cancer and Blood
Disorders. In addition, Dr. Thompson is associate director for
equity and minority health at the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center and
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She has served
on national advisory committees for governmental agencies as well
as non-profit organizations focused on improving healthcare access,
increasing workforce diversity and reducing health disparities. In
2018, Dr. Thompson served as president of the American Society of
Hematology (ASH) and continues to serve on ASH’s Sickle Cell
Disease Task Force.
“I’ve always wanted to make a difference, and GBT is a company
that has been at the forefront of making very substantial progress
on improving the lives of patients living with serious blood
disorders, particularly sickle cell disease. The GBT mission to
make this devastating disease a well-managed condition is one that
I eagerly support,” said Dr. Thompson. “I look forward to serving
on GBT’s board as the company advances innovative therapies for
different facets of SCD and potentially other orphan blood
diseases, improving overall care for underserved patients.”
Dr. Thompson is an investigator on multicenter clinical trials
as well as her own institutional clinical studies in SCD and
thalassemia. She has been a leader in multicenter collaborations,
such as the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Sickle Cell
Disease Implementation Consortium, and has received numerous awards
recognizing her expertise in teaching and clinical care. Dr.
Thompson received her medical degree from Tulane University, earned
her master’s in public health degree from University of California,
Los Angeles, and completed her postgraduate training at Children's
Hospital Los Angeles and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
(CHOP).
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 Statements Certain 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 significance of the
appointment of Dr. Thompson, including her potential impact;
expanding GBT’s leadership; the commercialization, characteristics
and potential of Oxbryta; altering the treatment, course, and care
of SCD and positively impacting patients; the 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 research and development activities under GBT’s collaborations;
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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