Potential Upside in Bluebird Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) Stocks

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By Henry Owen on July 22, 2014 Consumer Staples

The results of the clinical trials of Bluebird Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) LentiGlobin, gene therapy, showed that the two patients who were suffering from beta-thalassemia were transfusion free after two weeks of the therapy, and they remained transfusion free for a period of 3 and 6 months respectively. Although the results are not conclusive since the data has been obtained from 2 patients only, but the fact that both these patients recovered so quickly with encouraging levels of hemoglobin production, healthy genes proliferation and no blood transfusion suggests something.

Bluebird Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) is also running its tests and research on another of its drug, ‘Starbeam’. Starbeam is currently undergoing Phase 1 and 2 of its clinical trials. This drug has been designed for CCALD, which is caused by ABCD1 gene. CCALD is a terminal childhood disease, which results in long fatty acids’ accumulation in the body. Results for the clinical trials of this drug will be released in the upcoming year.

Bluebird Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) has started its phase 1 study trials for sickle cell anemia as well: sickle cell anemia causes the blood cells to mutate. No effective therapy for this disease is available in the market right now. The company will start its study on sickle cell anemia this summer, and the company will have a blockbuster if it remains successful in designing an effective therapy for this disease. Additionally, Bluebird is in a preclinical phase for its cancer drugs. It is pertinent to note here that the company is in a partnership with Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ:CELG) to design and develop an effective cancer drug.

The company’s shares are currently down by 30 percent, mainly due to the secondary offering by the company to gather funds of $100 million. Another reason for this downfall is the Federal Chair’s testimony that the stocks of relatively smaller biotech companies are overly stretched. At present, the company has almost 26 million outstanding shares with a market capitalization of $800 million.

If Bluebird’s study results of Lentiglobin B-thal come out positive, the stock prices of the company can multiply several times, as there are almost 15,000 people suffering from this disease in the regions of Europe and North America; the company can gain a market share of $6 billion. Moreover, if the company remains successful in designing and developing an effective therapy for CCALD, it can seize another $300 million.

Bluebird Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) revenues will be sky-high if the company successfully derives an effective drug for sickle cell anemia, for the number of people suffering from this genetic disorder is in millions all over the world. If Bluebird successfully develops a drug for sickle cell disease, it is going to be the biggest-selling drug for the company, for all time to come.

On the last trade day, the company started its stocks at a price of $30.68 and closed at a price of $33.91. The company’s intraday was recorded to be from $30.50 to $34 whereas its 52 week range is $17.03 to $41.75. Bluebird Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) has an EPS of -$3.17 and a beta of 0.6.