Acceleron Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:XLRN), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical
company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of
novel protein therapeutics for cancer and rare diseases, today announced
that the presentation of data from the luspatercept phase 2 clinical
trial in patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) was
selected for “Best of ASH” at the 56th American Society of Hematology
(ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition. The “Best of ASH” session, led by
the 2014 Annual Meeting Scientific Program Co-Chairs, highlighted
twenty-four of the top hematology breakthroughs selected from the
meeting’s more than 4,000 abstract presentations.
The luspatercept data were first presented at the meeting in an oral
presentation on Monday, December 8, 2014. A copy of those presentation
slides can be found under the "Publications" section on the Company's
website (www.acceleronpharma.com).
About Luspatercept
Luspatercept is a modified activin receptor type IIB fusion protein that
acts as a ligand trap for members in the Transforming Growth Factor-Beta
(TGF-β) superfamily involved in the late stages of erythropoiesis (red
blood cell production). Luspatercept regulates late-stage erythrocyte
(red blood cell) precursor cell differentiation and maturation. This
mechanism of action is distinct from that of erythropoietin (EPO), which
stimulates the proliferation of early-stage erythrocyte precursor cells.
Acceleron and Celgene are jointly developing luspatercept as part of a
global collaboration. Luspatercept is currently in phase 2 clinical
trials in patients with beta-thalassemia and in patients with
myelodysplastic syndromes. For more information, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of hematologic
malignancies of the bone marrow commonly leading to severe and chronic
anemia due to ineffective erythropoiesis. The National Cancer Institute
estimates that more than 10,000 people are diagnosed with MDS in the
United States each year. Patients with MDS have a hypercellular bone
marrow with various dysplastic changes of the cells that are also seen
in peripheral blood, resulting in cytopenias (low blood cell counts) and
an increased risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Nearly
all MDS patients suffer from anemia. The anemia in MDS is characterized
by high endogenous levels of erythropoietin (EPO) driving an abundance
of early stage red blood cell precursors and an inability of these
precursor cells to properly differentiate into healthy, functional red
blood cells. Many patients are therefore unresponsive to the
administration of erythropoietin to correct the resulting anemia and
instead require red blood cell transfusions, which can increase the risk
of infection and iron-overload related toxicities.
About Acceleron
Acceleron is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the
discovery, development and commercialization of novel protein
therapeutics for cancer and rare diseases. The company is a leader in
understanding the biology of the Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-β)
protein superfamily, a large and diverse group of molecules that are key
regulators in the growth and repair of tissues throughout the human
body, and in targeting these pathways to develop important new
medicines. Acceleron has built a highly productive R&D platform that has
generated innovative clinical and preclinical protein therapeutic
candidates with novel mechanisms of action. These protein therapeutic
candidates have the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes
for patients with cancer and rare diseases.
For more information, please visit www.acceleronpharma.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2014