Bellicum Announces Update on Clinical Hold of U.S. BPX-501 Studies

HOUSTON, Feb. 23, 2018 -- Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLCM), a leader in developing novel, controllable cellular immunotherapies for cancers and orphan inherited blood disorders, today announced it has received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outlining the criteria required for lifting the clinical hold on U.S. studies of BPX-501. To address the FDA requirements, the Company plans to implement revisions to the U.S. study protocols, including the addition of more comprehensive monitoring and management of neurotoxicity. In addition, the Company will revise the Investigator Brochure and Informed Consent Documents to inform healthcare providers, patients and caregivers of the changes. The Company expects to provide a full response to the FDA within a few weeks.

The clinical hold does not affect the Company’s BP-004 registration trial in Europe.

About BPX-501
BPX-501 is an adjunct T cell therapy administered after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) to improve outcomes in patients who lack a matched donor. It is comprised of genetically modified donor T cells incorporating Bellicum’s CaspaCIDe® safety switch. BPX-501 is designed to provide a safety net to eliminate alloreactive BPX-501 T cells (via administration of activator agent rimiducid) should uncontrollable GvHD occur. This enables physicians to more safely perform stem cell transplants by administering BPX-501 engineered T cells to speed immune reconstitution, provide control over viral infections and enhance Graft-versus-leukemic effect without unacceptable GvHD risk.

About Bellicum Pharmaceuticals
Bellicum is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing cellular immunotherapies for cancers and orphan inherited blood disorders. Bellicum is using its proprietary Chemical Induction of Dimerization (CID) technology platform to engineer and control components of the immune system. Bellicum is developing next-generation product candidates in some of the most important areas of cellular immunotherapy, including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and CAR-T and TCR cell therapies. More information can be found at www.bellicum.com.

Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Bellicum may, in some cases, use terms such as "predicts," "believes," "potential," "proposed," "continue," “designed,” "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Bellicum’s intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: Bellicum’s plans regarding implementing revisions to the U.S. study protocols and Investigator Brochure and Informed Consent Documents and expectations regarding the timing of providing a response to the FDA. Various factors may cause differences between Bellicum’s expectations and actual results as discussed in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in Bellicum’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. Any forward-looking statements that Bellicum makes in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Bellicum assumes no obligation to update our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Source: Bellicum Pharmaceuticals

Investors:
Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Alan Musso, CFO
832-384-1116
[email protected]

Media:
BMC Communications
Brad Miles
917-570-7340
[email protected]