On December 5, 2016 Acceleron Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:XLRN) and Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG), reported preliminary results from an ongoing investigator initiated Phase 2 study with investigational drug sotatercept in patients with myelofibrosis at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) in San Diego, California (Press release, Acceleron Pharma, DEC 5, 2016, View Source [SID1234516914]). Sotatercept is being developed as part of the global collaboration between Acceleron and Celgene.
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"These initial and encouraging data support our efforts for further clinical development work with our Acceleron-partnered programs in myelofibrosis," said Michael Pehl, President, Hematology and Oncology for Celgene. "We believe these programs have the potential to address a major unmet need in patients with myelofibrosis."
Highlights of the Sotatercept Myelofibrosis Phase 2 Data Presented at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper)
Results
19 patients were enrolled and treated with sotatercept (12 patients at 0.75 mg/kg and 7 at 1 mg/kg) and 14 of these patients have received at least 5 doses of sotatercept and are evaluable for response
36% (5/14) of the evaluable patients achieved an anemia response, defined as a composite of RBC-transfusion-independence and hemoglobin response (increase of ≥1.5 g/dL from baseline on every determination consecutively over ≥84 days without RBC transfusions).
Overall Safety
Most adverse events were grades 1 or 2.
Adverse events at least possibly related to study drug that occurred include grade 3 hypertension leading to discontinuation, grade 1 myalgia, bone pain, pain in extremity and injection site reaction.
13 patients have discontinued from the study: 5 due to no response, 2 proceeded to stem cell transplantation, 2 had MF progression, 1 transformed to AML, 1 each withdrew consent, had unrelated medical problems and hypertension
Sotatercept is an investigational product that is not approved for use in any country.
Acceleron ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Conference Call Information
Acceleron will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss data presented at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) meeting on December 5, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. EST (6:00 a.m. PST). To participate by teleconference, please dial 877-312-5848 (domestic) or 253-237-1155 (international) and refer to the Acceleron ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Review.
To access the live webcast, please select "Events & Presentations" in the Investors section on Acceleron’s website (www.acceleronpharma.com) at least 10 minutes beforehand to ensure time for any downloads that may be required.
An archived webcast recording will be available on the Acceleron website beginning approximately two hours after the event.
About the Phase 2 Study
Data were presented from an ongoing investigator sponsored Phase 2 study of sotatercept in subjects with myelofibrosis at the conference. Subjects enrolled were red blood cell (RBC) transfusion-dependent, have hemoglobin < 10 g/dL on every determination during the 84 days preceding study entry without RBC transfusions, or have hemoglobin < 10 g/dL despite intermittent RBC transfusions without fulfilling the criteria for transfusion dependence. Patients received open-label sotatercept at 0.75 mg/kg or 1 mg/kg, dosed subcutaneously once every three weeks.
The primary outcome measures for the study include anemia response and safety. Anemia response is a composite of RBC-transfusion-independence and hemoglobin response (increase of ≥1.5 g/dL from baseline on every determination consecutively over ≥84 days without RBC transfusions). Subjects must have received ≥5 cycles of sotatercept to be evaluable for response.
About Sotatercept
Sotatercept is an activin receptor type IIA fusion protein that acts as a ligand trap for members in the Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-β) superfamily involved in fibrosis and late stage erythropoiesis (red blood cell production). Acceleron and Celgene are jointly developing sotatercept as part of a global collaboration. Sotatercept is currently in multiple Phase 2 investigator initiated trials. For more information, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.