On November 6, 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 third quarter ended September 30, 2019 (Press release, Acceleron Pharma, NOV 6, 2019, View Source [SID1234550412]).
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"With the FDA’s decision on the luspatercept regulatory submission for the treatment of beta-thalassemia expected in less than one month, we are close to achieving a major company milestone-the potential approval for the first Acceleron-discovered medicine," said Habib Dable, President and Chief Executive Officer of Acceleron. "Alongside our global collaboration partner, Celgene, we are preparing for luspatercept’s potential commercial launch in the U.S. We also await the FDA’s decision on our BLA for the MDS indication in April 2020 and the European Medicines Agency’s decision on the MAA for both indications, which is expected in the second half of 2020. We continue to advance our ongoing clinical trials in first-line lower-risk MDS-, non-transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia- and myelofibrosis-associated anemia. In addition, we are looking forward to presenting luspatercept updates on our Phase 3 MEDALIST and BELIEVE trials, as well as interim results from the ongoing Phase 2 myelofibrosis trial at the upcoming ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) meeting in December."
Added Mr. Dable: "While our hematology program continues to grow, we are also advancing our two Acceleron-led clinical programs in pulmonary and neuromuscular disease. We anticipate reporting results in the first quarter of 2020 for both our PULSAR Phase 2 sotatercept trial in patients with PAH, and our ACE-083 trial in patients with CMT."
Development Program Highlights
Hematology
Luspatercept: Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), Beta-Thalassemia, and Myelofibrosis (MF)
Luspatercept is an investigational first-in-class erythroid maturation agent 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.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) review of the Biologics License Application (BLA) for luspatercept is ongoing for the treatment of anemia in adult patients with very low- to intermediate-risk MDS, who have ring sideroblasts and require red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, and for the treatment of anemia in adult patients with beta-thalassemia, who require regular RBC transfusions.
The FDA’s target action date for the beta-thalassemia indication is December 4, 2019, and April 4, 2020 for the MDS indication.
The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) review of the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for luspatercept for the treatment of anemia in adult patients with MDS or beta-thalassemia is ongoing. The EMA decision on the MAA is expected in the second half of 2020.
Six clinical abstracts of luspatercept have been accepted for presentation at the 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando on December 7-10, 2019, including
Five clinical abstracts highlighting new and updated analyses from the MEDALIST and BELIEVE Phase 3 trials;
One clinical abstract including interim results from the ongoing Phase 2 trial in MF.
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Enrollment is ongoing in the COMMANDS Phase 3 trial in patients with treatment-naïve, lower-risk MDS.
The BEYOND Phase 2 trial in adult patients with non-transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia is ongoing, with topline results expected by year-end 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 (RAP-011) reversed pulmonary vessel muscularization and improved indicators of right heart failure.
The FDA granted Orphan Drug Designation to sotatercept for the treatment of patients with PAH.
Topline results from the PULSAR Phase 2 trial in patients with PAH are expected in the first quarter of 2020.
Enrollment is ongoing in the exploratory SPECTRA trial in patients with PAH, with preliminary results expected in 2020.
Neuromuscular Disease
ACE-083: Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT) and Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD)
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.
Topline results from Part 2 of the Phase 2 trial in patients with CMT are expected in the first quarter of 2020.
Clinical development of ACE-083 in patients with FSHD has been discontinued following the Phase 2 topline results.
Financial Results
Cash Position – Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of September 30, 2019 were $468.3 million, as compared to $291.3 million as of December 31, 2018.
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 – Revenue for the third quarter of 2019 was $4.2 million. This revenue was derived from the Company’s collaboration partnership with Celgene and is largely related to expenses incurred by the Company in support of luspatercept.
Costs and Expenses – Total costs and expenses for the third quarter of 2019 were $53.1 million. This includes R&D expenses of $37.6 million and G&A expenses of $15.5 million.
Net Loss – The Company’s net loss for the third quarter of 2019 was $45.4 million.
Conference Call and Webcast
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The Company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss its third quarter 2019 financial results and provide an update on recent corporate activities on November 6, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. EST.
The webcast will be accessible under "Events & Presentations" in the Investors/Media page of the Company’s website at 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 Third Quarter 2019 Earnings Call."
The archived webcast will be available for replay on the Acceleron website approximately two hours after the event.