On May 9, 2019 Acceleron Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq:XLRN), a leading biopharmaceutical company in the discovery and development of TGF-beta superfamily therapeutics to treat serious and rare diseases, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 (Press release, Acceleron Pharma, MAY 9, 2019, View Source [SID1234536072]).

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"With the submission of marketing applications for luspatercept in the U.S. and E.U. last month, we and our global collaboration partner, Celgene, are excited about the potential to bring a new therapy to patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and beta-thalassemia within the next year," said Habib Dable, President and Chief Executive Officer of Acceleron. "At the same time, our pulmonary program remains on track, with enrollment ongoing in two Phase 2 trials of sotatercept in PAH, and we are anticipating topline results from the placebo-controlled part of the Phase 2 trial of our locally-acting muscle agent, ACE-083, in FSHD during the second half of this year."

Development Program Highlights

Hematology

Luspatercept: Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), Beta-Thalassemia, and Myelofibrosis (MF)
Luspatercept is an investigational first-in-class erythroid maturation agent (EMA) designed to address a late-stage erythroid maturation defect that results in chronic anemia and the need for regular red blood cell transfusions in adults with serious hematologic diseases. Luspatercept is part of the global collaboration between Acceleron and Celgene.

Celgene recently submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for luspatercept in patients with MDS- and beta-thalassemia-associated anemia based on the safety and efficacy results of the pivotal Phase 3 studies MEDALIST and BELIEVE.

The Companies expect to announce preliminary topline results from the Phase 2 trial of luspatercept in patients with MF in the second half of 2019.

Enrollment is ongoing in the COMMANDS Phase 3 trial in patients with first-line lower-risk MDS and the BEYOND Phase 2 trial in patients with non-transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia, with preliminary results expected from the BEYOND trial in 2020.

Neuromuscular Disease

ACE-083: Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
ACE-083 is an investigational locally-acting therapeutic designed to have a concentrated effect on muscle mass and strength in target muscles for diseases that cause focal muscle weakness. ACE-083 utilizes the "Myostatin+" approach to inhibit multiple TGF-beta superfamily ligands involved in muscle formation.

Previously presented results from Part 1 of the Phase 2 trial evaluating ACE-083 in patients with FSHD were highlighted in an encore presentation at the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinical & Scientific Conference in April 2019.

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Preliminary results from Part 2 of the Phase 2 trial in patients with FSHD are expected in the second half of 2019.

Previously presented results from Part 1 of the Phase 2 trial evaluating ACE-083 in patients with CMT will be highlighted in a platform presentation at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 71st Annual Meeting on May 10, 2019.

Enrollment is ongoing in Part 2 of the Phase 2 trial in patients with CMT, with preliminary results expected in the first quarter of 2020.

Pulmonary Disease

Sotatercept: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
Sotatercept is an investigational agent designed to be a selective ligand trap for members of the TGF-beta superfamily to rebalance BMPR2 signaling, which is a key molecular driver of PAH. In preclinical studies of PAH, sotatercept reversed pulmonary vessel muscularization and improved indicators of right heart failure.

Enrollment is ongoing in the PULSAR Phase 2 trial in patients with PAH, with topline results expected in the first half of 2020.

Enrollment is ongoing in the exploratory SPECTRA trial in patients with PAH, with preliminary results expected in 2020.

A preclinical abstract of sotatercept in PAH has been accepted for presentation at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2019 International Conference on May 21, 2019.

Financial Results

Cash Position – Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of March 31, 2019 were $513.1 million. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $291.3 million. Based on the Company’s current operating plan and projections, it believes that current cash, cash equivalents and investments will be sufficient to fund projected operating requirements until such time as it expects to receive significant royalty revenue from luspatercept sales.

Revenue – Collaboration revenue for the first quarter was $2.8 million. The revenue is all from the Company’s partnership with Celgene and is primarily related to expenses incurred by the Company in support of luspatercept.

Costs and Expenses – Total costs and expenses for the first quarter were $43.6 million. This includes R&D expenses of $32.8 million and G&A expenses of $10.8 million.

Net loss – The Company’s net loss for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 was $38.1 million.
Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss its first quarter 2019 financial results and provide an update on recent corporate activities on May 9, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.

The webcast will be accessible under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors/Media page of the Company’s website at www.acceleronpharma.com. Individuals can participate in the conference call by dialing 877-312-5848 (domestic) or 253-237-1155 (international) and referring to the "Acceleron First Quarter 2019 Earnings Call."

The archived webcast will be available for replay on the Acceleron website approximately two hours after the event.