Drug Research: ACE-011 Bone Forming Agent

Acceleron Pharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics that modulate the growth of tissues including bone and muscle, was recently selected to receive a Biotech Investment Award from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation to support the research and development of ACE-011, a bone forming agent, for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

In addition, Acceleron announced that it began an additional study of ACE-011.

“With this grant, we will continue to aggressively pursue the development of ACE-011, which has shown encouraging preclinical and clinical effects on bone formation, to treat the complications of bone loss associated with multiple myeloma,” said John Knopf, chief executive officer of Acceleron.

The multiple dose study will be conducted in healthy, post-menopausal women. Subjects will receive four monthly subcutaneous doses of either ACE-011 or placebo. The primary objective of the study is to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of ACE-011. The pharmacodynamic effects of ACE-011 on bone will also be measured.

In numerous preclinical models of bone loss, ACE-011 increased bone mineral density, improved bone architecture, increased the mineral apposition and bone formation rates and improved bone mechanical strength. These effects have been demonstrated in therapeutic models of bone loss in which ACE-011 stimulated bone formation — a significant unmet medical need that is underserved by current treatments for bone loss, according to Acceleron.