STAT+: A year after distressed buyout, what’s become of Bluebird Bio?

STAT PlusBiotech A year after distressed buyout, what’s become of Bluebird Bio? CEO David Meek says the company, now called Genetix, is leading in sickle cell gene therapy Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Jason MastJuly 2, 2026 General Assignment Reporter Jason Mast[email protected]Jason is a general assignment reporter, with particular focus on genetic medicine and rare disease. Confidential tips can be sent on Signal at JasonMast.77. David Meek bought Bluebird Bio last year for the pharma industry equivalent of loose change. The company was on the brink of bankruptcy. In 12 months, he says, it’s been transformed. Advertisement In a swaggering interview, one of the first he’s given since the deal, Meek lambasted competitors and claimed the company would dominate the market for sickle cell disease gene therapies for years to come. By 2030, he said the company — now rebranded as Genetix — would be treating 1,000 patients per year. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily coverage and analysis of the biotech sector — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In biotech, CRISPR, Gene therapy, sickle cell, STAT+, Vertex Submit a correction requestReprints Jason Mast General Assignment Reporter Jason is a general assignment reporter, with particular focus on genetic medicine and rare disease. Confidential tips can be sent on Signal at JasonMast.77. Newsletter Your morning rundown of the science, politics, and money driving biotech today Recommended Health tech July 2, 2026 STAT Plus: A former AI regulator, now in industry, says biopharma is reading FDA’s guidance wrong In the Lab July 1, 2026 STAT Plus: Synthetic biology researchers think they’ve made a cell. Is it alive? Advertisement The Readout July 1, 2026 STAT Plus: More signs that GLP-1s may help with peripheral artery disease Biotech July 1, 2026 STAT Plus: FDA approves Orca Bio’s T cell therapy for blood cancer patients Biotech July 1, 2026 STAT Plus: The biotech scorecard for the third quarter: 15 stock-moving events to watch Subscriber Picks