BMS, Acceleron Tout Positive Phase 2 Results for Anemia Drug

Bristol Myers Squibb’s (BMS) and Acceleron Pharma’s Rebolzyl (luspatercept-aamt) combined with best supportive care was shown to boost hemoglobin levels in 77 percent of patients vs. a placebo in a phase 2 study.

Reblozyl regulates the maturation of red blood cells by blocking a signaling pathway that is overactive in patients with anemia-associated beta thalassaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.

In the 145-person trial, 89.6 percent of participants who received Reblozyl stayed transfusion-free through week 24 vs. 67.3 percent of participants in the placebo arm, the companies said.

Reblozyl sustained elevated hemoglobin levels in most patients “regardless of their baseline hemoglobin status,” said trial investigator Ali Taher.