New Berlin site to accelerate cell therapy innovation for BlueRock Therapeutics

Forming a fundamental part of it’s growth strategy, BlueRock Therapeutics LP has established a new site for cell therapy innovation on Bayer’s campus in Berlin, Germany. 

While operating independently, the team at BlueRock (a subsidiary of Bayer AG) will benefit from the expertise of various teams at Bayer to enable the expansion and acceleration of the company’s clinical trials to Europe.

BlueRock recently closed enrollment for a Phase I clinical trial for BRT-DA01, its novel cell therapy for treating Parkinson’s disease, and intends to initiate a global non-interventional study for Parkinson’s patients in the second half of 2022.

“Establishing a presence for BlueRock in Europe offers the opportunity to strengthen our collaboration, with the ultimate goal to deliver cell therapies with transformational potential,” commented Stefan Oelrich, Member of the Board of Management, Bayer AG and President of Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division. “Together we will translate pioneering science into tangible therapies for patients.”

A multidisciplinary BlueRock team will be set up during 2022 to provide clinical development and operational support for Europe, including chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC). The team will expand as the company’s growing pipeline of innovative cell therapies for treating patients with neurological, immunological, cardiovascular and ophthalmic diseases progresses. The co-location of the companies’ teams in Berlin will enable BlueRock to leverage Bayer’s global reach and know-how in areas such as regulatory affairs, clinical development, and commercialisation.

 “The establishment of a site in Europe is an important milestone in our growth strategy that will enable us to extend the reach of our advancing pipeline of novel cell therapies to patients globally,” stated Seth Ettenberg, President and CEO of BlueRock Therapeutics.

Bayer and BlueRock share a commitment to developing new therapies to treat devastating diseases in areas of high unmet medical need. Since the inception of BlueRock in 2016 by Versant Ventures and Bayer AG, the company has grown from a pre-clinical start-up to a clinical-stage company with sites in the United States, Canada and now Europe.